US spy satellite USA 32 fragments in orbit, raising debris concerns
The US Space Force confirmed that the declassified spy satellite USA 32 broke apart in low Earth orbit on September 13, creating a sizable debris cloud.
On September 13, the US Space Force observed the disintegration of the long-standing spy satellite USA 32, formerly designated Farrah III, at an altitude of about 480 miles. Launched in 1988 to monitor Soviet electronic emissions, the satellite had far exceeded its intended three-year lifespan. The Space Force announced the event on September 17, noting that investigations are continuing and that an anti-satellite attack has not been ruled out.
Astronomer Dr Tony Phillips suggested a meteor or stray debris could have caused a pressurized component to rupture. The breakup adds to concerns about the densely populated low-Earth-orbit corridor, where over 200 active satellites, including the Iridium NEXT constellation, operate and could be threatened by further debris collisions.
