Satellite Reentry
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Failing Starlink Satellite Photographed in Orbit Before Fiery Reentry
A SpaceX Starlink satellite suffered a major in-orbit failure in December 2025, losing communication after venting its fuel tank and beginning an uncontrolled orbital descent. The malfunction caused the satellite’s altitude to drop and produced minor debris, prompting close tracking by SpaceX, NASA and the U.S. Space Force. High-resolution imager...
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Starlink Satellite Breaks Apart in Orbit, Begins Uncontrolled Fall Toward Earth After SpaceX Anomaly
A SpaceX Starlink satellite is tumbling toward Earth after an orbital anomaly caused partial breakup and loss of contact. The company says the spacecraft will safely burn up during reentry, while the incident highlights increasing space safety concerns as satellite numbers continue to grow rapidly.
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NASA Launches Rescue Mission to Save the Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Observatory
NASA is preparing an unprecedented mission to save the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, a key gamma-ray burst monitor launched in 2004 but now rapidly losing altitude. Partnering with Katalyst Space Technologies, NASA will send a robotic servicer on a Pegasus XL rocket to rendezvous with Swift, inspect it, and raise it to a stable orbit. The effort ...
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SpaceX Falcon 9 Deploys 28 Next-Generation Starlink V2 Mini Satellites
SpaceX launched 28 Starlink V2 Mini satellites Sept. 21, 2025, from Florida. The Falcon 9’s first stage, on its 11th mission, landed on a drone ship. This was SpaceX’s 119th launch of the year, further expanding its Starlink mega-constellation to over 8,000 active satellites in orbit.
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SpaceX Schedules 10th Starship Test Flight for August 24 Amid Recent Setbacks
SpaceX’s upcoming 10th Starship test flight, scheduled for Aug. 24 from Starbase, Texas, is a milestone for the company’s ambitious rocket program. The launch will validate deployment systems, engine restart capability, and controlled reentry maneuvers, all vital for future crewed missions to the moon and Mars.
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Soviet Venus Probe Kosmos-482 Re-enters Earth’s Atmosphere After 52 Years, Location Unclear
A failed Soviet Venus probe from 1972 re-entered Earth’s atmosphere in May, yet tracking its final descent baffled experts. Despite decades of observation, differing models and unpredictable atmospheric conditions prevented precise predictions. Scientists now see Kosmos-482 as a case study in the enduring challenges of satellite reentry and the n...
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NASA Study Confirms Solar Storms Prematurely Ended Starlink Satellite's Lifespan
A recent study, backed by NASA, reveals that solar storms are causing Starlink satellites to reenter Earth's atmosphere much faster than anticipated. Analysing data from hundreds of Starlink deorbit events between 2020 and 2024, researchers found that heightened geomagnetic activity drastically increases atmospheric drag, leading to quicker orbital...
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SpaceX Starship Flight 9 Reuses Booster, Gathers Key Data Despite Loss
SpaceX launched its ninth Starship test flight on May 27, showcasing bold advancements including the first reuse of a Super Heavy booster. Although both rocket stages were lost before completing all mission goals, the test delivered valuable data on reusability, aerodynamic control, and thermal protection. The upper stage reached space and attempte...
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Soviet Venus Lander Kosmos 482 Crashes to Earth After 53 Years in Orbit
Off-page Excerpt: Kosmos 482, a failed Soviet Venus lander launched in 1972, finally fell to Earth on May 10 after 53 years in orbit. Reentry estimates vary, but experts believe the probe likely splashed into the Indian Ocean. Designed to withstand Venus’s atmosphere, it may have reached Earth’s surface intact, renewing global concerns over un...
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Scientists Chase Falling Satellite to Study Atmospheric Pollution from Spacecraft Reentries
In a rare airborne mission, scientists chased ESA's Cluster Salsa satellite as it reentered Earth's atmosphere. The fiery descent revealed emissions of lithium, potassium, and aluminum—chemicals that could impact the ozone layer and climate. With satellite reentries increasing, researchers aim to improve pollution models and plan further tracking...
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Failing Starlink Satellite Photographed in Orbit Before Fiery Reentry
A SpaceX Starlink satellite suffered a major in-orbit failure in December 2025, losing communication after venting its fuel tank and beginning an uncontrolled orbital descent. The malfunction caused the satellite’s altitude to drop and produced minor debris, prompting close tracking by SpaceX, NASA and the U.S. Space Force. High-resolution imager...
-
Starlink Satellite Breaks Apart in Orbit, Begins Uncontrolled Fall Toward Earth After SpaceX Anomaly
A SpaceX Starlink satellite is tumbling toward Earth after an orbital anomaly caused partial breakup and loss of contact. The company says the spacecraft will safely burn up during reentry, while the incident highlights increasing space safety concerns as satellite numbers continue to grow rapidly.
-
NASA Launches Rescue Mission to Save the Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Observatory
NASA is preparing an unprecedented mission to save the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, a key gamma-ray burst monitor launched in 2004 but now rapidly losing altitude. Partnering with Katalyst Space Technologies, NASA will send a robotic servicer on a Pegasus XL rocket to rendezvous with Swift, inspect it, and raise it to a stable orbit. The effort ...
-
SpaceX Falcon 9 Deploys 28 Next-Generation Starlink V2 Mini Satellites
SpaceX launched 28 Starlink V2 Mini satellites Sept. 21, 2025, from Florida. The Falcon 9’s first stage, on its 11th mission, landed on a drone ship. This was SpaceX’s 119th launch of the year, further expanding its Starlink mega-constellation to over 8,000 active satellites in orbit.
-
SpaceX Schedules 10th Starship Test Flight for August 24 Amid Recent Setbacks
SpaceX’s upcoming 10th Starship test flight, scheduled for Aug. 24 from Starbase, Texas, is a milestone for the company’s ambitious rocket program. The launch will validate deployment systems, engine restart capability, and controlled reentry maneuvers, all vital for future crewed missions to the moon and Mars.
-
Soviet Venus Probe Kosmos-482 Re-enters Earth’s Atmosphere After 52 Years, Location Unclear
A failed Soviet Venus probe from 1972 re-entered Earth’s atmosphere in May, yet tracking its final descent baffled experts. Despite decades of observation, differing models and unpredictable atmospheric conditions prevented precise predictions. Scientists now see Kosmos-482 as a case study in the enduring challenges of satellite reentry and the n...
-
NASA Study Confirms Solar Storms Prematurely Ended Starlink Satellite's Lifespan
A recent study, backed by NASA, reveals that solar storms are causing Starlink satellites to reenter Earth's atmosphere much faster than anticipated. Analysing data from hundreds of Starlink deorbit events between 2020 and 2024, researchers found that heightened geomagnetic activity drastically increases atmospheric drag, leading to quicker orbital...
-
SpaceX Starship Flight 9 Reuses Booster, Gathers Key Data Despite Loss
SpaceX launched its ninth Starship test flight on May 27, showcasing bold advancements including the first reuse of a Super Heavy booster. Although both rocket stages were lost before completing all mission goals, the test delivered valuable data on reusability, aerodynamic control, and thermal protection. The upper stage reached space and attempte...
-
Soviet Venus Lander Kosmos 482 Crashes to Earth After 53 Years in Orbit
Off-page Excerpt: Kosmos 482, a failed Soviet Venus lander launched in 1972, finally fell to Earth on May 10 after 53 years in orbit. Reentry estimates vary, but experts believe the probe likely splashed into the Indian Ocean. Designed to withstand Venus’s atmosphere, it may have reached Earth’s surface intact, renewing global concerns over un...
-
Scientists Chase Falling Satellite to Study Atmospheric Pollution from Spacecraft Reentries
In a rare airborne mission, scientists chased ESA's Cluster Salsa satellite as it reentered Earth's atmosphere. The fiery descent revealed emissions of lithium, potassium, and aluminum—chemicals that could impact the ozone layer and climate. With satellite reentries increasing, researchers aim to improve pollution models and plan further tracking...
