SpaceX Starlink Satellite Experiences Anomaly, Tumbling Toward Earth

One of SpaceX's Starlink satellites has experienced a critical anomaly in orbit on December 17, 2025, causing it to lose communication and begin tumbling toward Earth. The satellite, which was orbiting at an altitude of 260 miles (418 kilometers), suffered a propulsion tank failure, resulting in a rapid decay of its orbit by approximately 4 km (2.5 miles). The anomaly also led to the release of a small number of trackable low relative velocity objects, signaling potential damage to the satellite's propulsion system.