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A new report is circulating stating that about three percent of the SpaceX Starlink satellites the company has put into orbit have failed. According to the report, that many satellites have apparently failed because they are no longer maneuvering in orbit. Each of the satellites is equipped with an ion engine that allows it to maneuver to avoid collisions.
The data comes from an astronomer named Jonathan McDowell. He says the failure rate is not particularly alarming. However, if SpaceX puts its entire planned fleet into orbit, it could have as many as 1,200 dead satellites. Starlink has been one of the company’s biggest impulses, aiming to cover the world with broadband Internet coverage.
The Starlink service will be offered in the US only, with some testing ongoing. The company has announced plans to open a public beta test in the northern United States and southern Canada in the coming months. CEO Elon Musk says other countries would be served as soon as they receive regulatory approval.
Some fear that the faulty satellites could pose a danger to other satellites orbiting the Earth. The first batch of 60 Starlink satellites went into orbit in May 2019. So far, 775 satellites are in orbit. McDowell says the failure rate isn’t egregious and it’s no worse than anyone else. It is simply the size of the constellation and the number of potentially failed satellites in orbit that are causing concern.
Other concerns have plagued the Starlink satellites. In particular, astronomers have been concerned that its brightness could interfere with observations of the sky made with ground-based telescopes. SpaceX has been testing various methods to reduce glare from satellites, including special coatings and canopies.
