After the explosion, the satellite broke into pieces in space, why this happened is not known, there is a danger to other satellites too

New Delhi : A communication satellite in space suddenly exploded like a bomb on October 19. Its debris broke into pieces and scattered in space. The service provider, which had communication satellite, has customers in Africa, Europe and parts of Asia-Pacific where internet service has also been affected. The lifespan of a communication satellite is considered to be 15-20 years but it was destroyed in just 7 years. Why did this happen? Experts are also scratching their heads, trying to find answers. After the spread of satellite debris in space, other satellites have also become a threat. The name of the satellite was Intelsat 33E and it was operated by the American company Intelsat. The company has termed it as ‘total loss’. The satellite was made by Boeing.

The US Space Force has also confirmed the satellite explosion. It reported that on October 19, 2024, Intelsat 33E (#41748, 2016-053B) disintegrated. So far about 20 pieces have been seen and further investigation is underway. According to the Space Force, there is no danger at present. But, they are keeping an eye on these pieces to ensure safety in space.

However, S2A Systems, a Swiss tracking company, says it has seen 40 pieces of satellite on October 21. Another tracking company, Exo Analytic Solutions, claimed to have seen 57 pieces of satellite on the same day. This tracking company is from America. According to experts, these fragments in space can become a threat to other satellites.

Intelsat, which operates this satellite, also confirmed this, saying that it has stopped working and has been completely destroyed. “We are analyzing the data and observations in collaboration with satellite manufacturer Boeing and government agencies,” Intelsat said. A board is being formed to find out the reasons for this incident.

Intelsat 33E was built by Boeing and launched in 2016. It was in service since 2017. Generally the lifespan of communication satellites is 15 to 20 years. But 33E was destroyed after serving for just 7 years.

Boeing is already facing difficulties. Its Starliner spacecraft, which was designed to carry astronauts to the International Space Station, has been plagued by several technical problems. Recently, two astronauts, Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, are stranded on the ISS due to a malfunction of its Starliner spacecraft. They will be brought back aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft in February.