On October 19, Intelsat’s communications satellite, Intelsat 33e, suffered a significant anomaly, leading to its breakup in geostationary orbit. According to a statement from Intelsat, the company detected the issue earlier that day, which resulted in the satellite losing power and ceasing to provide services to customers across Europe, Africa, and parts of the Asia-Pacific region.
The company is currently collaborating with Boeing, the satellite’s manufacturer, in an attempt to diagnose the underlying cause of the problem. However, as reported in Intelsat’s short press release, there was little hope that the satellite would be recoverable.
The U.S. Space Force has confirmed that it is tracking 20 pieces of debris linked to Intelsat 33e following the incident. Astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell stated on X that the breakup took place at 04:30 UTC on October 19.
S4S has confirmed the breakup of Intelsat 33E (#41748, 2016-053B) ~0430 UTC. Currently tracking around 20 associated pieces – analysis ongoing.
— S4S_SDA (@S4S_SDA) October 20, 2024
While the exact cause of the anomaly has not been disclosed, the sudden loss of the satellite has prompted the company to initiate efforts to reroute impacted customers to other satellites within its fleet or to third-party service providers. As reported in Intelsat’s statement, company representatives are maintaining direct communication with all affected customers to mitigate disruptions as much as possible.
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Problematic since the start
Intelsat 33e was initially launched in August 2016, but its entry into service faced delays due to a propulsion issue with its primary thruster, which pushed the satellite’s operational start to January 2017.
The spacecraft was placed at a geostationary orbit position of 60 degrees East. Complications, however, persisted throughout its mission life. Following a second propulsion anomaly encountered during in-orbit tests, Intelsat 33e’s expected operational lifespan was cut by approximately 3.5 years from its originally projected 15-year duration.
This recent incident marks another setback for the company’s EpicNG satellite series. Intelsat 33e was the second satellite in this next-generation high-throughput series, designed to deliver enhanced data and broadband services. At least three other EpicNG satellites are currently in orbit. These are Intelsat 32e, Intelsat 35e, and Horizons 3e, all launched between 2017 and 2018.
Its predecessor, Intelsat 29e, was declared a total loss in 2019 after three years in orbit due to an incident linked either to a meteoroid impact or a wiring flaw, potentially exacerbated by solar weather activity. The failure of Intelsat 29e raised concerns within the industry about the resilience of the EpicNG fleet, concerns which may be further amplified by the loss of Intelsat 33e.
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Financial impact
The satellite was reportedly uninsured at the time of the anomaly, a detail that may have financial implications for Intelsat as the company navigates the fallout from this incident.
The decision to forgo insurance coverage could suggest a strategic risk management choice, potentially based on the satellite’s reduced remaining lifespan or other operational considerations. Nonetheless, the satellite’s sudden failure is likely to result in a scramble to reassess and reallocate the company’s resources to ensure service continuity for affected clients.
As Intelsat and Boeing work to determine the precise cause of the satellite’s breakdown, industry analysts and stakeholders will be closely observing the implications for future satellite operations and risk management practices. The presence of 20 debris fragments in geostationary orbit has also sparked concerns regarding space debris management, given the high concentration of valuable assets in this orbital region. The U.S. Space Force’s ongoing monitoring will be critical to assess any potential risks posed to nearby satellites.
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