Did you experience wonky broadband service recently? A broken satellite in space might have something to do with it!

If your broadband connectivity faltered recently, the cause may be far above the Earth. On October 19, 2024, the Intelsat 33e satellite experienced a catastrophic event in geostationary orbit, breaking into at least 20 pieces. This fragmentation was later confirmed to have generated over 57 pieces of space debris. The satellite’s sudden disintegration impacted certain broadband and connectivity services in Asia, Europe and Africa.

While the satellite wasn’t widely used for everyday home broadband, its services were vital for specific sectors. Intelsat 33e was a critical part of Intelsat’s EpicNG network, delivering high-throughput broadband for inflight Wi-Fi, maritime connectivity, and business communications. It even supported broadband for airlines in India through a partnership with Tata's Nelco.

However, the incident that occurred on October 19 resulted in a loss of power and service to Intelsat’s customers. In a statement released by the company, Intesat said that they were assessing their fleet’s capacity as well as working with third-party providers to mitigate service interruptions. Intelsat representatives were in direct communication with all affected customers, it further said.

What caused the satellite to break apart?

Instances of deliberate satellite destructions, accidental collisions and violent solar activity have all been documented in the past. But the exact cause of the satellite's breakup is still under investigation.

Notably, Intelsat 33e, designed and manufactured by Boeing Space Systems, has had a history of propulsion problems. Soon after its launch in 2016, the satellite faced thruster issues, which reduced its operational lifespan. Such malfunctions may have contributed to the satellite’s structural failure over time.

In fact, the Boeing-built EpicNG 702MP satellite bus has experienced failures in the past, including one in 2019. At the moment, it remains unclear whether this was an isolated incident or part of a larger mechanical failure. Regardless of the root cause, the most pressing issue left by the incident is the generation of space debris, which presents risks for other operational satellites.

Growing pile of space junk

The breakup of Intelsat 33e adds to a growing concern: space debris. With over 57 pieces of the 6,600 kilogram satellite now floating in geostationary orbit, the risk to other satellites and space assets has increased. Space junk can cause significant damage to operational satellites by colliding with them at high speeds. Each collision generates even more debris, creating a dangerous cascade effect known as the Kessler syndrome, where space becomes increasingly congested and hazardous for future missions.

While steps are being taken to track and mitigate space debris, incidents like this one highlight the growing urgency for better space traffic management and debris removal solutions. As we rely more on satellite infrastructure for global communication, the safety and sustainability of space have never been more critical.