A retired military weather satellite has disintegrated in orbit, generating a significant amount of debris and raising concerns about the growing problem of space junk. The incident involved the DMSP-5D2 F14 spacecraft, which was launched in 1997 and decommissioned in 2020.
The U.S. Space Force reported that the satellite experienced a “low-velocity fragmentation event” on December 18th at an altitude of 840 kilometers. While the initial announcement did not specify the amount of debris created, commercial space situational awareness companies LeoLabs and Slingshot Aerospace have been tracking the event. LeoLabs estimates that over 50 pieces of debris have been generated.
This is not the first incident of its kind involving this particular series of satellites. Several other DMSP spacecraft, including F11, F12, and F13, have experienced similar breakups in orbit, often attributed to a design flaw in their battery assemblies that makes them prone to explosions.
A similar design was also used for a line of civilian weather satellites operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Both NOAA-16 and NOAA-17 suffered breakups in 2015 and 2021, respectively.
Many of these incidents occurred despite the satellites undergoing a “passivation” process at the end of their operational lives. This process involves depleting batteries and venting fuel tanks to eliminate potential energy sources that could lead to breakups. However, experts have pointed out that passivation may not be entirely effective on older satellites designed before orbital debris mitigation practices were widely adopted.
The increasing number of defunct satellites and fragments in orbit poses a growing threat to active spacecraft and future space missions. Collisions with even small pieces of debris can cause significant damage, potentially leading to a chain reaction of further breakups and creating even more debris.
This latest incident highlights the urgent need for improved debris mitigation strategies and the development of technologies for removing existing debris from orbit. As space becomes increasingly congested, ensuring the sustainability of space activities requires a collective effort to address the growing problem of space junk.