Starlink satellite 34343 experienced an anomaly last Sunday, at 560 km altitude, and broke up into pieces.

LeoLabs imaged the area around the satellite and detected 10's of fragments. They characterize this event as "likely caused by an internal energetic source rather than a collision with space debris or another object. Due to its low altitude, fragments will likely de-orbit within a few weeks."

Now imagine such events with a million+ satellites in orbit.

https://www.pcmag.com/news/in-pieces-spacex-mysteriously-loses-contact-with-starlink-satellite
#RUD
1/n

• #KID separated from #PSLV ~18 minutes after takeoff, likely as a result of the flight anomaly
• The demo craft was able to withstand peak forces around 28 Gs
• KID’s thermal protection system was able to maintain a temperature of ~30 degrees Celsius, while external temperature readings showed ~85 degrees 🌡️ Celsius
• The vehicle successfully transmitted data, while screaming through the atmosphere at a non-nominal trajectory

https://payloadspace.com/exclusive-orbital-paradigm-emerges-as-the-lone-survivor-of-failed-pslv-launch/

#ISRO #RUD ##OrbitalParadigm

The ultimate humiliation of the #US by the Chinese wouldn't be a confrontation over Taiwan. It'd be an offer to bring back the rock samples #Perseverance has been collecting around Jezero, #Mars, at ⅒ of #NASA's cost (#DeepSeek anyone?) and before 2030 😎

You don't think so?

#AndyWeir already thought of something similar in #TheMartian, where a #Chinese booster saved the day by resupplying Hermes for its rescue mission when M̶u̶s̶k̶'̶s̶ #NASA's resupply rocket suffered #RUD in mid air.

#MSR #SciFi

I wanna play some #KSP tonight.

#KerbalSpaceProgram #SpaceSim #Space #Lithobraking #RUD #RapidUnplannedDisassembly