A Boeing satellite belonging to multinational service provider Intelsat mysteriously broke apart in geostationary orbit over the weekend. According to an official update, an ‘anomaly’ caused the satellite, known as IS-33e, to be destroyed, resulting in what the company calls a ‘total loss.’
The exact cause of the breakup remains unclear. The U.S. Space Force announced it is tracking around 20 pieces of debris but noted no immediate threats.
The satellite, which weighed 14,600 pounds and was roughly the size of a minivan, was designed and manufactured by Boeing Space Systems and launched in 2016.
It provided broadband services, including internet and phone communications, to parts of Europe, Africa, and most of Asia
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