this post was submitted on 24 Oct 2024
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The Boeing-made Intelsat 33e satellite broke apart in orbit over the weekend. But company representatives don't yet know why.

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[–] Red_October 40 points 5 days ago

Obviously the satellite was a whistleblower and this was just a tragic accident.

[–] Kyrgizion 18 points 5 days ago

I wouldn't trust a Boeing condom at this point.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 5 days ago (3 children)

I really hope it just broke apart... because the alternative is that somebody has an anti-satellite weapon that is fairly discreet (not as obvious as a missile fired from the ground) and that they're willing to actively use.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

Could also be the massive amount of space debris ripped it a new one

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 days ago

Yeah, there's lots of stuff in orbit, and these are just the objects large enough to be tracked by radar. An impact from a small, fast-moving object is a completely rational explanation.

[–] Reddfugee42 11 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Occam's Razor - micrometeorite or space debris

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 days ago

Or just plain structural failure due to a design or manufacturing defect.

[–] Kbobabob 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

I remember watching a Tech Ingredients video where I think they did the math on space lasers, I think the conclusion was that it would be technically possible to significantly impact local earth surface temperature with one. (Might've been a degree or two extra for 10km² or something like that, with a huge satellite, maybe around the size of Hubble, or bigger.)

Of course, there's no reason to believe some politicians' insane ramblings about "Jewish Space Lasers".

Edit, found the video: https://youtu.be/-MVs37rxJL0?si=4Ztwq-FyOiB0uZqI

If the topic seems insane, the caveat at 31:50 should probably correct the tone. This man doesn't actually believe space lasers were used to start a big grass fire.

Also, I remembered all the numbers very wrong.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 days ago

...so the front fell off?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 days ago

Boeing management should start calling their ex-girlfriends and begging them to take the curse off.

[–] Crackhappy 5 points 5 days ago
[–] badbytes 3 points 5 days ago

They attempted to find and ask the quality control person at Boeing, but they were on extended leave.

[–] Allonzee 2 points 5 days ago

Better cut some more jobs, that's bound to improve product quality!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago

Was it "Made By Boeing" sticker?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago
[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago

Could it be hydrazine setting off while its thrusters engaged maybe?

[–] Protoknuckles 1 points 5 days ago

I mean, I have a theory...

[–] I_Miss_Daniel -2 points 5 days ago

You sunk my battleship? You bunked my satellite!

[–] [email protected] -2 points 5 days ago

The answer is in the headline...