Intelsat 33e Breakup Sends Shockwaves
Space-tracking company ExoAnalytic Solutions has identified about 500 pieces of debris from Intelsat 33e’s recent breakup in geostationary orbit (GEO). This loss of a Boeing-built satellite represents one of the largest GEO breakups in recent history, and poses a significant threat to present and planned space operations for all operators in the domain.
Since the breakup occurred on October 19th, a variety of groups have begun the laborious process of identifying debris and characterizing their orbits. The first to report the breakup was the 18th Space Defense Squadron of the United States Space Force, followed by the Russian state space agency Roscosmos. ExoAnalytic’s analysis represents the most significant publicly released increase in identified fragments since the anomaly – bringing the total count greater than 500. “The size of the debris we are tracking ranges from small fragments roughly the size of a softball to larger pieces up to the size of a car door,” ExoAnalytic chief technology officer Bill Therien told SpaceNews in an Oct. 28 email. “The majority of the tracked objects are on the smaller end of that spectrum, which contributes to the difficulty of consistently observing all the debris pieces.”
ExoAnalytic has observed 108 of these pieces during a 24 hour period, Therien said, clarifying that the company does not expect to observe every piece of debris each night because size, velocity, and position relative to ground sensors can influence whether the debris is visible during a particular observation window. With a variety of organizations continuing to categorize this breakup event, the number of pieces will likely increase over the coming weeks. A particular hazard of breakups in geostationary orbit is the longevity of debris, which is not impacted by atmospheric drag as it is in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). This results in debris loitering in congested orbits for thousands of years, potentially indefinitely.
Intelsat initially said in an Oct. 19 news release it was working with satellite maker Boeing to address an anomaly that emerged earlier that day, but added it was “unlikely that the satellite will be recoverable.” In an Oct. 21 update, Intelsat declared the satellite a total loss. The company said it is working with government agencies to analyze data and observations, and has set up a Failure Review Board to investigate the anomaly’s cause. This is the second of Intelsat’s EpicNG series to suffer a failure since the fleet began service. The failure of Intelsat 29e was the result of either a meteoroid impact or a wiring flaw that led to an electrostatic discharge following heightened solar weather activity.
Intelsat 33e launched in August 2016 on an Ariane V rocket from French Guiana, and entered service in January 2017 at 60 degrees East – providing telecommunications coverage for Asia, Europe and Northern Africa. The satellite arrived on-station approximately three months later than planned following an issue with its primary thruster, built by NAMMO of the United Kingdom. A second propulsion issue that emerged during in-orbit tests helped knock off around 3.5 years from the satellite’s initially estimated 15-year lifespan, which has remained the industry standard for GEO satellites. Intelsat 33e is the second in Intelsat’s EpicNG (next-generation) series of high-throughput satellites – designed to increase connectivity and throughput for terrestrial customers.
Space sustainability concerns in recent years have driven both government agencies and private enterprise to develop new frameworks for dealing with the threat of space debris. Events such as collisions and anti-satellite weapons tests have made the LEO region crowded, with essential uncrewed and crewed platforms acutely at risk. In November 2021, this risk was highlighted when the crew of the International Space Station was forced to shelter in place by an ASAT test conducted by the Russian Federation. Other events, such as the breakup of upper stages and aging satellites in a variety of orbital regimes as well as collisions, present considerable risk to long term visions of sustainable space exploration and utilization. It has become increasingly clear to both industry and government observers that new concrete frameworks are desperately needed, as pointed out by Vice President Kamala Harris during the most recent meeting of the National Space Council and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
To address a rapidly changing space operating environment and ensure its preservation for generations to come, NASA released Volume I of its integrated Space Sustainability Strategy on Tuesday, April 9th at Space Symposium, advancing the agency’s role as a global leader on this crucial issue. This first element, with a focus on Low Earth Orbit activities, will act as a key governing document for US based industry and government operations close to home – a key step in ensuring sustainability best practices as more players enter the fold. Additional elements are expected in the coming months to address numerous sustainability concerns, and bolster frameworks for sustainable public-private operations.
As GEO continues to become more congested, and regulators plan to overhaul operations for spacing and frequency licensing, a fundamental restructuring of space sustainability operations looms on the industry’s horizon. It is becoming imperative for all operators in the GEO regime to fundamentally rethink their sustainability strategy in order to ensure that this crucial domain remains usable for future generations.
Edited by Scarlet Dominik and Emily B.