Janice R. Andrews
Intelsat has confirmed the “total loss” of its Boeing-manufactured satellite, iS-33e, after it broke apart in orbit. The communications satellite, which provided services across Europe, Africa, and Asia-Pacific regions, has scattered approximately 20 debris fragments now being monitored by U.S. Space Force. Intelsat has initiated a detailed investigation in collaboration with Boeing and government authorities to determine the cause.
This incident compounds Boeing’s mounting difficulties. The aerospace manufacturer currently faces multiple challenges:
- Labor Issues: Over 30,000 commercial airplane division workers are on strike, with a contract vote pending
- Space Operations: Technical problems with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft have affected astronaut transportation from the International Space Station, requiring SpaceX assistance for their return next year
- Financial Strain: The company seeks $35 billion in funding while planning to reduce its workforce by 17,000 positions in November
- Legal Troubles: Boeing recently accepted a criminal fraud charge regarding the 737-MAX crashes (2018-2019), agreeing to pay $243.6 million in penalties for violating a previous prosecution agreement
While Boeing has directed satellite-related inquiries to Intelsat, the orbital breakup represents yet another challenge for the company as it navigates through operational, financial, and legal difficulties across its divisions.
