A malfunctioning SpaceX Starlink satellite was photographed in orbit after a sudden anomaly sent it into an uncontrolled descent that will end with the spacecraft burning up in Earth’s atmosphere.
The incident happened on December 17, 2025, when Starlink satellite 35956 suffered an in-orbit failure that caused a loss of communications and an unscheduled venting of its propulsion tank, according to SpaceX/Starlink statements cited by multiple outlets. The event also produced a small number of trackable debris objects, suggesting a partial breakup or internal malfunction rather than a planned deorbit.
To better understand what happened, SpaceX requested third-party imagery from Vantor (formerly Maxar Intelligence). Using its WorldView-3 satellite, Vantor captured a high-resolution image on December 18 while both spacecraft were over Alaska—from a distance of about 241 km at roughly 12 cm per pixel. The image indicates the satellite is largely intact, even as it tumbles and continues to lose altitude.
SpaceX says the satellite (and any associated debris) is expected to reenter and fully disintegrate within weeks, and the company is investigating the root cause while working with tracking partners and regulators to monitor the objects.
