SpaceX has lost contact with one of its Starlink satellites after what it called an unexpected anomaly in orbit.
The company has not shared the exact cause, but early data suggests the satellite may have broken apart.
Space tracking firm LeoLabs reported that it detected multiple objects forming near the satellite, identified as Starlink 34343, shortly after the incident. This kind of activity usually points to a fragmentation event in space.
SpaceX stated that the situation does not pose any risk to the International Space Station, its crew, or the upcoming Artemis II mission. The company added that it will continue tracking the satellite and any debris while working with NASA and the US Space Force.
The debris is expected to reenter Earth’s atmosphere and burn up within a few weeks. SpaceX is currently investigating what led to the failure.
The latest event occurred at an altitude of about 560 kilometers above Earth in low Earth orbit, a region that has become increasingly crowded. More than 24,000 objects are currently being tracked in this zone, including debris and around 10,000 Starlink satellites.
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Earlier this year, SpaceX also requested approval from the FCC to deploy up to one million satellites as part of a future network aimed at supporting data and artificial intelligence systems in orbit.
