Following a string of airplane malfunctions and the high-profile Starliner debacle that left two astronauts marooned on the International Space Station, the company is now dealing with the explosion of one of its satellites.
According to Gateway Pundit, the U.S. Space Force is currently tracking space debris following the explosion of the Intelsat satellite, a product of Boeing, a few days ago. CBS News reported, “The Intelsat 33e satellite, which was launched in 2016 and provides communications across Europe, Asia and Africa, experienced 'an anomaly' on Saturday, Intelsat said in a news release. Attempts were made to work with Boeing and repair the satellite, but on Monday, the U.S. Space Force confirmed that the satellite had exploded.” This explosion has left customers bereft of power and communication services.
The U.S. Space Force has been monitoring "around 20 associated pieces" of the satellite since the explosion. The agency has assured that there are "no immediate threats" and that routine safety assessments are ongoing. However, Russia's space agency, Roscosmos, has reported tracking "more than 80 fragments" of the destroyed satellite. They concluded that the satellite's destruction was "instantaneous and high-energy."
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This incident couldn't have occurred at a more inopportune time for Boeing, as the company is already under intense scrutiny for its seemingly flawed manufacturing processes. Over the past year, Boeing planes have been in the news for all the wrong reasons, including whistleblower complaints, federal investigations, and a significant space mishap.
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The company reported a third-quarter loss exceeding $6 billion and plans to cut 10% of its workforce. Currently, tens of thousands of its manufacturing employees are on strike.
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Fortune reported, “Intelsat, the owner of the satellite, is reporting 'the total loss' of the device in an update on its Website. The company is working with Boeing and government agencies to determine the cause of the mishap. The company initially reported the satellite service outage on Oct. 19, which impacted communications services for customers in Europe, Africa and parts of the Asia-Pacific region.”
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While the U.S. Space Force reports tracking 20 pieces of debris, other observers, including the Russian space agency, report a higher number. ExoAnalytic Solutions told SpaceNews it was tracking 57 pieces of debris and was warning operators of spacecraft that could be at risk of collision.
This isn't the first time a Boeing satellite has been declared a total loss at Intelsat. In 2019, the company lost a unit after three years due to what was either a meteoroid or a wiring flaw. This series of unfortunate events raises serious questions about the quality of Boeing's manufacturing processes and the potential risks posed to its customers and the broader public.