US Cold War-era spy satellite explodes above Earth — and nobody knows why
The defunct USA 32 (or Farrah III) satellite, which launched in 1988, broke apart without warning on Sept. 13, around 480 miles above Earth's surface. Experts are still unsure what caused this sudden fragmentation, how many pieces it created, or how the debris might impact other nearby spacecraft.
An American Cold War-era spy satellite, designated USA 32 or Farrah III, suddenly exploded in low Earth orbit (LEO) without warning on September 13, 2023, according to Space-Track. The exact cause of the explosion remains unknown, with potential explanations including collisions with other satellites or space debris, the satellite's age, or anti-satellite weaponry.
However, no evidence of the latter has been found, and other collisions were not reported beforehand. The explosion occurred approximately 480 miles (775 kilometers) above Earth's surface, creating a debris cloud that could pose a threat to other spacecraft in the already crowded LEO. While the ISS and China's Tiangong space station are currently unaffected, the risk of collisions involving the newly created fragments remains real as Earth's gravity and atmospheric drag may eventually bring the debris closer to our planet.
Researchers will need to conduct further analysis to determine the exact cause of the explosion, which could take months or even years.
Written by urgent.news from Live Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 1 other outlet
- The images revealing the scale of destruction in Gaza israelnationalnews.com
