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SpaceX has confirmed that 20 newly launched Starlink satellites will crash back to Earth after an anomaly occurred during their deployment.
The incident occurred during a Falcon 9 rocket launch on Thursday night, when the rocket's second-stage engine failed to complete its crucial second burn.
This resulted in the satellites being deployed into a much lower orbit than intended, posing a serious risk to their survival.
According to SpaceX, the team was able to make contact with 10 of the affected satellites and attempted to have them raise their orbits using their onboard ion thrusters. However, the satellites were in an "enormously high-drag environment" with their lowest point, or perigee, just 135 km above the Earth's surface.
"At this level of drag, our maximum available thrust is unlikely to be enough to successfully raise the satellites," the company said in a statement. "As such, the satellites will re-enter Earth's atmosphere and fully demise. They do not pose a threat to other satellites in orbit or to public safety."
The failed second-stage burn left the satellites in an eccentric orbit with a very low perigee, significantly less than the expected altitude.
Each pass through this low perigee removed over 5 km of altitude from the orbit's highest point, or apogee, making it impossible for the satellites to be salvaged.
This incident marks a rare anomaly for SpaceX's typically reliable Falcon 9 rocket, which has become the workhorse of the company's Starlink project.
The loss of these 20 satellites is a significant setback, as SpaceX continues to build out its global satellite internet network.
The company's CEO, Elon Musk, acknowledged the situation on social media, stating that they had attempted to run the ion thrusters at "warp 9" speed, referencing Star Trek terminology. However, Musk admitted that "unlike a Star Trek episode, this will probably not work, but it's worth a shot."
This incident highlights the complex challenges faced in satellite deployment missions and the importance of precise orbital insertions. It also demonstrates SpaceX's ability to respond quickly to unforeseen circumstances, even if the outcome is ultimately not successful.
The space industry will closely monitor the aftermath of this incident, as it could provide valuable insights into satellite recovery procedures and the capabilities of SpaceX's Starlink satellites in emergency situations.
