A SpaceX satellite just lost control and is tumbling through orbit.

 

 

 A SpaceX satellite just lost control and is tumbling through orbit.

Here's what another satellite saw from 150 miles away!

A Starlink satellite operated by SpaceX malfunctioned dramatically on December 17, 2025, after suffering a sudden and severe systems failure. The satellite vented its propulsion tank without command and began tumbling uncontrollably through low Earth orbit. With no way to regain control, SpaceX confirmed it will re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and burn up within weeks. To investigate the issue, the company enlisted Vantor’s WorldView-3 — a highly advanced satellite equipped with powerful thermal and optical imaging — to visually inspect the rogue unit from 150 miles away.

 

WorldView-3’s high-resolution image shows the Starlink satellite still mostly intact, with its solar panels extended, but visibly compromised. While the incident caused a small release of debris, SpaceX reported no threat to other orbiting spacecraft. Still, the episode underscores growing concerns about orbital traffic and satellite reliability. With Starlink now representing over 9,000 of the roughly 14,000 active satellites in orbit, experts warn that such anomalies could become more frequent — and more dangerous — as space becomes increasingly congested.

 

Source: Vantor. (2025). SpaceX Starlink Satellite Imaging: Rapid Response with WorldView-3.