The global satellite communications company, Intelsat, announced that one of its satellites has exploded unexpectedly in geostationary orbit around Earth. According to reports, this incident has resulted in the scattering of debris in space, raising concerns about its potential negative impact on other satellites orbiting in the same region.
This incident is a major blow to the American company, Boeing, which was responsible for manufacturing this satellite. Intelsat has begun taking emergency measures to transfer the services provided by the exploded satellite to alternative satellites, as well as forming a specialized technical committee to investigate the causes of the incident and determine responsibilities.
The troubled satellite was of the modern EpicNG model, designed to provide communication, internet, and satellite broadcasting services. However, the satellite has experienced technical problems since its launch, most notably a malfunction in the primary engine, significantly reducing its lifespan.
It is worth noting that this incident is not the first of its kind for Intelsat, as the company previously lost another satellite in 2019 due to a similar incident, further complicating its operations.
This incident also comes at a sensitive time for Boeing, as the company faces successive challenges, including the failed test of the crewed “Starliner” vehicle, issues related to the 737 Max aircraft, as well as delays affecting the 777X aircraft.
