Boeing Built Intelsat 33e Satellite Breaks Apart in GEO

In a significant development affecting communications across Europe, Africa, and parts of the Asia-Pacific, the Intelsat 33e satellite has experienced a catastrophic breakup in geostationary orbit (GEO). The incident, which took place on October 19, resulted in the satellite ceasing all communications services, marking a substantial disruption for Intelsat’s customers.

The news was initially confirmed by Intelsat in a press release the same day, where the company stated it was working closely with satellite manufacturer Boeing to address the anomaly. However, the release conveyed a grim outlook for recovery efforts.

“It is unlikely that the satellite will be recoverable,” - Intelsat Statement

On October 21, Intelsat officially declared the Intelsat 33e satellite irrecoverable. Alongside this announcement, the company revealed that it had enlisted the support of government agencies to further analyze the situation. A Failure Review Board has also been established to investigate the cause of the anomaly, although specific details remain scarce at this time.

Financial Hit

Compounding the setback, an Intelsat spokesperson disclosed that the satellite was not insured, increasing the financial impact of the loss. The failure of Intelsat 33e is yet another blow to Intelsat’s satellite operations, which have already been marked by prior issues with its high-throughput satellite series.

Space Force Tracking Alerts

The U.S. Space Force reported on October 19 that it was tracking approximately 20 pieces of debris associated with the satellite.

"U.S. Space Forces-Space (S4S) has confirmed the breakup of Intelsat 33E (#41748, 2016-053B) in GEO on October 19, 2024, at approximately 0430 UTC,” - SpaceTrack, a Department of Defense Space-Tracking Platform.

The Space Force added that it is conducting routine conjunction assessments to ensure the safety and sustainability of other spacecraft within GEO.

Private Tracking Alerts

Meanwhile, commercial space-tracking company ExoAnalytic Solutions, which is based in the U.S., provided an update on the situation, offering a more extensive estimate of the debris field, having confirmed atleast 57 pieces of debris as of October 21.

"We are warning operators of any spacecraft that we think are at risk of collision," - CEO Douglas Hendrix

The loss of Intelsat 33e has forced the company to begin relocating affected customers to other satellites within its fleet or to those operated by third-party providers. The satellite had been a key asset within the company's EpicNG high-throughput series.

Intelsat 33e Previous Issues

Launched in August 2016, Intelsat 33e began operational service in January 2017. The satellite was initially deployed to provide enhanced communications at 60 degrees East longitude, but it was hampered early on by a series of propulsion issues. These problems first emerged shortly after launch, when a malfunction in its primary thruster delayed the satellite’s entry into service by approximately three months.

A second propulsion issue detected during in-orbit testing further reduced the satellite’s operational lifespan, cutting an estimated 3.5 years from its original 15-year projection.

This latest failure follows the 2019 loss of Intelsat 29e, the first satellite in the EpicNG series. Intelsat-29e was declared a total loss after only three years in service. That failure was attributed to either a meteoroid strike or a wiring defect that resulted in an electrostatic discharge. Solar weather was also considered a potential factor in the incident.

Space Debris in GEO

The break-up of Intelsat 33e has added to concerns about the increasing risk of space debris in GEO, a critical orbital region for communications and broadcasting satellites.

Intelsat’s ongoing efforts to investigate the cause of the anomaly and assess the debris field will be crucial in determining the full impact of this incident on the broader space environment.