NAIROBI, Kenya- Boeing’s rough year just got a little rockier. A communications satellite designed and built by the aerospace giant has broken up in orbit, marking another blow to a company already grappling with multiple challenges.
The satellite in question, Intelsat 33e (iS-33e), has been declared a total loss by its operator, Intelsat, impacting services across Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia-Pacific.
Intelsat, the satellite operator, confirmed the unfortunate news, stating it has initiated a “comprehensive analysis” to figure out what went wrong.
“We are coordinating with the satellite manufacturer, Boeing, and government agencies to analyze data and observations,” Intelsat explained.
The U.S. Department of Defense’s space-tracking service, SpaceTrack, has corroborated the satellite’s breakup, with U.S. Space Forces now tracking around 20 pieces of debris from the incident.
While space may be vast, the risks posed by satellite debris can lead to major complications for space traffic and future missions.
Boeing is no stranger to difficulties in recent years, and this latest satellite disaster piles on more pressure.
The company has been juggling multiple crises, including ongoing issues with its Starliner spacecraft. Two astronauts remain stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) after the Starliner they arrived on was deemed unsafe for their return journey.
Luckily, SpaceX will swoop in to bring the astronauts home sometime next year Boeing’s space woes weren’t enough, its commercial airplane business is also taking a hit.
More than 30,000 workers at Boeing’s commercial plane division have been on strike, protesting wages and working conditions.
The strike might reach a resolution soon, with union members set to vote on a new offer that includes a 35pc pay rise over the next four years .
Beyond the operational headaches, Boeing is also navigating turbulent financial waters. The company is seeking up to $35 billion in new funding and recently announced plans to lay off 17,000 employees—around 10pc of its workforce—starting in November.
This comes as Boeing tries to recover from its July settlement in a criminal fraud case, where the company agreed to pay at least $243.6 million after breaching a deferred prosecution agreement linked to the 737-MAX disasters .
With satellite breakups, strikes, and space missions gone awry, it’s clear that Boeing’s journey to recovery will be anything but smooth.
