Table of Contents
A recent incident involving a Starlink satellite has reignited the debate on space pollution. While satellite number 35956 was experiencing a technical anomaly, it stopped communicating with ground teams and released several debris into space. This event highlights the growing challenges related to managing objects in orbit around the Earth.
The 3 key facts not to miss
The Starlink satellite number 35956, operating at an altitude of 418 kilometers, suddenly stopped functioning properly. The anomaly caused a “venting” of the propulsion tank and a drop in altitude of 4 kilometers, accompanied by the ejection of several traceable objects. This indicates that an internal explosion likely occurred.
LeoLabs, a company specializing in space monitoring, detected “dozens” of fragments resulting from this incident. Although SpaceX has not confirmed the exact cause, it is possible that the satellite was damaged by an impact with another object.
SpaceX, in collaboration with the US Space Force and NASA, is striving to track the trajectory of the debris. The company claims that the satellite should completely burn up upon re-entry into the atmosphere, eliminating any risk to the International Space Station (ISS) and terrestrial populations. Starlink satellites are designed to completely disintegrate, thus minimizing the dangers related to space debris.
Since the orbit of the defective satellite is well below that of the ISS, there is no danger to the latter or its crew. SpaceX is committed to strengthening the monitoring and management of its systems to prevent similar future incidents.
Since the launch of the Starlink constellation in 2019, nearly 10,000 satellites have been placed in orbit, and this number is constantly increasing. SpaceX plans to add tens of thousands more satellites, while Amazon and other players are also expanding their networks.
This proliferation is transforming orbital space into a crowded environment where the risk of collision is high. In the first half of 2025, Starlink performed about 145,000 avoidance maneuvers, averaging four per satellite per month. This figure illustrates the need for better coordination among satellite operators.
Michael Nicolls, vice president of Starlink engineering, recently highlighted the lack of coordination in space, citing an incident where a Starlink satellite was grazed by a Chinese spacecraft at only 200 meters. This type of situation underscores the importance of international cooperation to avoid collisions and protect space infrastructure.
SpaceX claims to be actively working to identify the cause of the anomaly of satellite 35956. The company is already deploying software updates to improve the safety of its satellites and prevent future incidents.
Starlink, a SpaceX project, began in 2015 with the goal of providing high-speed Internet access worldwide. Since then, the company has launched thousands of satellites into low Earth orbit to create a network capable of serving even the most remote regions of the globe. Although the project promises to revolutionize Internet access, it also raises concerns about space debris management and orbital space saturation.