Washington:
A satellite from Elon Musk’s Starlink project has recently moved toward Earth after SpaceX lost control of it in space. The incident has drawn attention, although officials have confirmed that there is no immediate danger.
According to SpaceX, the satellite was orbiting at an altitude of 35,956 kilometers on December 17. However, a sudden technical failure caused gas to release forcefully from its propulsion system. As a result, the satellite dropped sharply by nearly four kilometers within a short period.
Technical Failure Triggers Sudden Descent
Following the malfunction, certain components separated from the satellite and began drifting slowly. Consequently, SpaceX stated that the satellite could enter Earth’s atmosphere and disintegrate within a week. The company shared these details through a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Meanwhile, on Saturday, satellite fragments were spotted over Alaska, USA. During this time, WorldView-3, a high-resolution satellite operated by VentorTech, captured images of the debris from a distance of 241 kilometers.
No Threat to ISS or Earth: SpaceX
Despite the unexpected descent, SpaceX reassured the public that the satellite poses no threat to the International Space Station or to Earth. Importantly, the company confirmed that the satellite remains below the ISS orbit.
Moreover, experts explained that because the satellite is now in low Earth orbit, gravity will pull it down naturally. Due to atmospheric friction, most of the debris is expected to burn up completely before reaching the surface.
Starlink Project Continues Expansion
Currently, SpaceX has launched nearly 9,000 Starlink satellites into orbit. The project aims to deliver high-speed internet access to remote and underserved regions across the globe.
At the same time, SpaceX continues to operate in coordination with NASA and the US Space Force to monitor satellite safety and orbital activity. Officials emphasized that such incidents remain rare and manageable within existing safety systems.
