Starlink satellite breaks apart into “tens of objects”; SpaceX confirms “anomaly”. Satellite failure cause is unexplained after second “fragment creation event.”
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/03/starlink-satellite-breaks-apart-into-tens-of-objects-spacex-confirms-anomaly/
35 Comments
This is just a Kessler syndrome disaster waiting to happen.
Fragment creation event is a cool way to say explosion.
honestly kinda freaky how many satellites we have up there already and now they’re breaking apart? space junk is a real problem that nobody talks about enough.
Some foreign government testing untrackable debris targeted at certain orbits.
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> Because of “the low altitude of the event, fragments from this anomaly will likely de-orbit within a few weeks,” it said.
This is why low Earth orbit satellites are much, much safer. Only larger objects can remain in these orbits for any significant amount of time. If this debris were to collide with more debris, it would split up into even smaller parts that would de-orbit even faster.
ive never thought about this but I wonder how much they ported from tesla into space x manufacturing. tresla isn’t really known for the spot on QC. but then again maybe nasa pre trump had a hand in setting atandards.
Isn’t this called a spontaneous disassembly?
Its funny how it was number 34343.
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I have to use “thermal event” in my line of work when describing equipment failures.
oh boy kessler syndrom to go along with highest ever gas prices for 2026? im becomming really certain Trump is aligned with Chaos gods from 40k.
Can’t wait for the future when you can randomly get orbital airburst struck by exploding LEO satellites and just go “gosh another one today?”
Kessler syndrome. Cool cool cool
It exploded because I was trying to upload a photo of yo mama
Kessler Syndrome HERE WE GOOOOOOO!
Surprised Pikachu face.
I remember opponents to starlink expect exactly this
Sudden unplanned disassembly.
Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I’ve seen in this thread:
|Fewer Letters|More Letters|
|——-|———|—|
|[ASAT](/r/Space/comments/1s91vhd/stub/odl9bwc “Last usage”)|[Anti-Satellite weapon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-satellite_weapon)|
|[FCC](/r/Space/comments/1s91vhd/stub/odla5b6 “Last usage”)|Federal Communications Commission|
| |(Iron/steel) [Face-Centered Cubic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allotropes_of_iron) crystalline structure|
|[KSP](/r/Space/comments/1s91vhd/stub/odl9bwc “Last usage”)|*Kerbal Space Program*, the rocketry simulator|
|[LEO](/r/Space/comments/1s91vhd/stub/odld2cn “Last usage”)|Low Earth Orbit (180-2000km)|
| |Law Enforcement Officer (most often mentioned during transport operations)|
|[RUD](/r/Space/comments/1s91vhd/stub/odl5gcp “Last usage”)|Rapid Unplanned Disassembly|
| |Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly|
| |Rapid Unintended Disassembly|
|[STA](/r/Space/comments/1s91vhd/stub/odla5b6 “Last usage”)|Special Temporary Authorization (issued by FCC for up to 6 months)|
| |Structural Test Article|
|Jargon|Definition|
|——-|———|—|
|[Starlink](/r/Space/comments/1s91vhd/stub/odln6m5 “Last usage”)|SpaceX’s world-wide satellite broadband constellation|
|[apoapsis](/r/Space/comments/1s91vhd/stub/odlb8jr “Last usage”)|Highest point in an elliptical orbit (when the orbiter is slowest)|
|[apogee](/r/Space/comments/1s91vhd/stub/odlvpii “Last usage”)|Highest point in an elliptical orbit around Earth (when the orbiter is slowest)|
|[periapsis](/r/Space/comments/1s91vhd/stub/odlb8jr “Last usage”)|Lowest point in an elliptical orbit (when the orbiter is fastest)|
|[perigee](/r/Space/comments/1s91vhd/stub/odlvpii “Last usage”)|Lowest point in an elliptical orbit around the Earth (when the orbiter is fastest)|
Decronym is now also available on Lemmy! Requests for support and new installations should be directed to the Contact address below.
—————-
^(11 acronyms in this thread; )[^(the most compressed thread commented on today)](/r/Space/comments/1s8uzgx)^( has 22 acronyms.)
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So basically same build quality as tesla cars
Perhaps it was built the same way Tesla’s were built. Which might explain the falling apart thing better than something unforeseen.
Russia attacking the satellites
Skynet is assembling itself!
Kessler syndrome here we go!
I’m not sure if it’s engagement bait or not, but I always thought “tens of objects” sounded so awkward and unrefined. It’s dozens!
laser induced thermo-mechanical anomaly? which region was it orbiting during the event?
If they are unable to explain why they should be unable to launch more until they figure it out. We don’t need these wads of slag causing a cascade in the atmosphere.
Oh, cool. I was wondering if I was going to live long enough to experience Kessler syndrome.
“tens of…”? Who wrote this, Brandon Sanderson?
I mean given current events couldn’t it be possible they are being shot down somehow ? If a country wanted to do some real damage to the US I would imagine striking the satellites would cause significant damage
How much money can I put on this preventing Artemis 2 from launching
Will this be a risk to the Artemis 2 launch?
I used to play bass for Fragment Creation Event
Given the number of satellites, their track record is pretty high.
A communication disruption can mean only one thing: invasion