A declassified U.S. spy satellite, known as USA 32 and codenamed 'Farrah III' during the Cold War, mysteriously broke apart in low Earth orbit on September 13, creating a significant debris cloud. The U.S. Space Force confirmed the incident on September 17 and stated that an ongoing analysis is underway, without ruling out the possibility of an anti-satellite weapon being involved.
USA 32, launched in 1988, was operated by the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) to intercept Soviet radar and electronic signals. Its mission was officially declassified in 2025, revealing its operational details. Although its intended lifespan was only four years, the satellite remained in space for 38 years, far exceeding its design parameters.
The exact cause of the explosion remains undetermined. Dr. Tony Phillips, an astronomer operating Spaceweather.com, suggested potential causes such as a ruptured pressurized tank or battery cell, or a collision with space debris or a meteor. He warned that other satellites operating in the densely populated low Earth orbit could be at risk, noting that more than 200 active satellites, including the Iridium NEXT constellation, are within 50 kilometers of USA 32's altitude.
This incident has raised concerns about the potential disruption of vital services that rely on satellites in low Earth orbit, including GPS navigation, weather forecasting, banking, shipping, emergency communications, and military intelligence. The loss of satellites due to debris could lead to failures in these ground-based services and compromise U.S. intelligence-gathering capabilities.
While investigations continue, CNN has reported that there are no indications of the satellite being deliberately targeted by an anti-satellite weapon. The explosion occurred shortly after the Space Force began launching classified payloads using SpaceX rockets. Concurrently, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink announced that the U.S. military has deployed weapons in space for the first time, a move intended to counter actions by Russia and China. Russia successfully tested an anti-satellite missile in 2021, destroying a defunct Soviet-era satellite.