As reported by Reference News, which cited a Reuters dispatch dated December 19, a satellite from SpaceX's 'Starlink' constellation encountered an unexpected anomaly on December 17 while orbiting Earth. At an altitude of 418 kilometers, the satellite abruptly ceased communications with ground control and produced a "small" quantity of debris. This marks a rare propulsion-related incident for the satellite internet behemoth in space.

SpaceX announced on the social media platform X that while the satellite is mostly intact, it is now tumbling uncontrollably. The company anticipates that the satellite will re-enter Earth's atmosphere and burn up entirely within the next few weeks. SpaceX is collaborating closely with the U.S. Space Force and NASA to closely monitor the situation and track the debris.

Near Earth Orbit Laboratories, a U.S.-based firm, reported detecting "dozens" of fragments that are presumably remnants from the incident. They speculate that the mishap was likely caused by internal malfunctions rather than a collision with another space object.