This week, something unexpected happened in space that has everyone talking. A satellite made by Boeing, called Intelsat 33e, exploded! The satellite, which was launched in 2016, helped people communicate across Europe, Asia, and Africa.
On Saturday, the company that operated the satellite, Intelsat, reported that it had encountered a serious problem described as “an anomaly.” They tried to fix it with help from Boeing, but by Monday, the U.S. Space Force confirmed that the satellite had blown up.
This explosion created quite a mess. Some customers who relied on the satellite for power and communication services were left in the dark. Intelsat is now working hard with other companies to restore services and keep their customers informed.
After the explosion, the U.S. Space Force began tracking around 20 pieces of debris floating in space from the destroyed satellite. Thankfully, they reported that there were no immediate dangers, and they are closely monitoring the situation to keep things safe.
Meanwhile, Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos, discovered even more debris. They noted that they recorded over 80 fragments from the satellite. They explained that the satellite’s destruction was quick and powerful, leaving a lot of debris in its wake.
This incident has raised questions about Boeing and its manufacturing processes. The company has faced criticism for various issues with its aircraft earlier this year, and there have been whistleblower complaints and investigations. Additionally, two astronauts are currently stuck on the International Space Station due to a problem with Boeing’s Starliner, which is supposed to take them back home in early 2025.
To top it all off, Boeing announced a massive loss of more than $6 billion in the third quarter, and its newly appointed CEO, Kelly Ortberg, revealed that about 10% of the workforce would be cut. With tens of thousands of employees on strike, the future looks uncertain for the company.
As the story unfolds, the explosion of the Intelsat 33e satellite reminds us how fragile our technology can be—and how closely we need to watch what happens in space!
