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Satellite operator can’t control probe breaking up in Earth’s orbit Mystery surrounds objects spotted near satellite as contact finally restored
(4 days later)
An out-of-control satellite has begun to break up in Earth’s orbit, according to its operator. Evasive satellite AMC-9 is back in contact with its operator weeks after a 'significant anomaly' saw it lose connection. The source of 'two separate objects' floating in the vicinity of AMC-9 has yet to be determined.
Satellite firm SES, whose website claims it provides “reliable and secure satellite and ground communications solutions”, lost control of its AMC-9 satellite on June 17 following a “significant anomaly.” The firm in charge of the operation, SES, insists it remains in control of the satellite and does not believe it's falling apart. It lost contact with AMC-9 on June 17. 
The company confirmed that the satellite, located some 36,000 kilometers above Earth's surface, started to break apart just days ago. SES then hired space situational awareness company ExoAnalytic Solutions to track the drifting piece of equipment. "We have contact with the satellite and telecommand capabilities, and the satellite is flying in its orbit, moving westwards, in a predictable and observable manner," Markus Payer of SES told RT in a statement. "AMC-9 is not breaking apart."
“There is no risk it will interfere or collide with another active satellite,” he concluded.
READ MORE: ‘Catastrophic avalanche of collisions’: Space junk can destroy satellites, scientists sayREAD MORE: ‘Catastrophic avalanche of collisions’: Space junk can destroy satellites, scientists say
"We have seen several pieces come off of it over the past several days," ExoAnalytic's CEO, Doug Hendrix, told ArsTechnica. "We are tracking at least one of the pieces. I would hesitate to say we know for sure what happened.” ExoAnalytic Solutions – hired by SES to help track its satellites – is also monitoring these other drifting objects in an apparent bid to identify their origin. AMC-9 is about 36,000km (22,500 miles) above the Earth’s surface.
AMC-9, a communication satellite launched in 2003 onboard a Russian Proton rocket, had been nearing the end of its 15-year lifespan prior to this incident. However, the machine and its flailing parts could now become another in the ever-growing swarm of space debris in geostationary orbit. “I would hesitate to say we know for sure what happened,” ExoAnalytic's CEO, Doug Hendrix, told ArsTechnica.
AMC-9, a communication satellite launched in 2003 onboard a Russian Proton rocket, had been nearing the end of its 15-year lifespan prior to this apparent incident. The nearby separate objects could add to the ever-growing space debris in geostationary orbit.
"The challenge is that those pieces, in human terms, will be up there almost forever, and will present a long-term navigational hazard," Brian Weeden, space situational awareness expert, said of the incident."The challenge is that those pieces, in human terms, will be up there almost forever, and will present a long-term navigational hazard," Brian Weeden, space situational awareness expert, said of the incident.
READ MORE: Space junk mission drawn into Earth's atmosphere & destroyedREAD MORE: Space junk mission drawn into Earth's atmosphere & destroyed
Additional space debris increase the possibility of a collision with other satellites in orbit over time, but Weeden says a ‘chain reaction’ is unlikely: "This will definitely increase the odds of collisions over the Americas, but I don't think this is going to set off a chain reaction.”
A race is currently underway amongst engineers to develop an effective system to rid space of the estimated 170 million pieces of junk orbiting Earth. The debris could make future missions unsafe if not cleared.A race is currently underway amongst engineers to develop an effective system to rid space of the estimated 170 million pieces of junk orbiting Earth. The debris could make future missions unsafe if not cleared.
SES said the loss of its satellite, which provided data and broadcast services over the US and Mexico, could cost the company up to $22 million in revenue this year.