Starlink satellite breaks apart into "tens of objects"; SpaceX confirms "anomaly"

A December 2025 Starlink satellite experienced an anomaly that vented its propulsion tank and caused a ~4 km orbital decay.

Starlink said the satellite released a small number of trackable low-relative-velocity objects and was tumbling but largely intact.

Starlink said the satellite would reenter and fully demise within weeks and that engineers are deploying software updates to prevent similar events.

Starlink also reported a separate near-collision in December when a Chinese-launched satellite passed within 200 meters of STARLINK-6079 at 560 km.