A satellite exploded in space and nobody knows why

The Intelsat 33e satellite has disintegrated into at least 20 pieces of space debris, with the cause of the explosion still unknown. Intelsat, the satellite's service provider, confirmed that it is a "total loss" and is collaborating with Boeing, the satellite manufacturer, and government agencies to investigate the incident. The US Space Force has reported that the breakup occurred in geostationary orbit on October 19, 2024, around 0430 UTC, and is currently tracking approximately 20 debris fragments, with ongoing analysis indicating no immediate threats to other satellites. Launched in 2016 and operational since 2017, Intelsat 33e provided communications services across Africa, Asia, and Europe, and its destruction will impact numerous customers in these regions. Boeing has faced scrutiny recently, particularly due to issues with its Starliner spacecraft, which encountered technical difficulties during a mission to the International Space Station (ISS), leaving astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore stranded. They are scheduled to return in February aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, as both SpaceX and Boeing were contracted to develop reusable spacecraft for transporting astronauts to and from the ISS.