Fragmented Space Object 32398 and its Debris Aftermath
On April 15, the space object known as catalog number 32398 broke into several pieces. The incident drew attention from US Space Defense Fleet and observers tracking orbital objects. The event highlights how a single component can end up as multiple fragments scattered in Earth orbit, creating a lasting debris footprint.
Space journalist Anatoly Zak, creator of the RusSpaceWeb portal, noted that object 32398 is believed to be the engine from the upper stage of a launch system that previously delivered three GLONASS satellites into orbit in 2007. This attribution places the origin of the debris within a well documented spaceflight mission and underscores how components can survive reentry or separation and later contribute to the debris environment. In the context of this analysis, Zak’s assessment aligns with the broader narrative about upper stage hardware surviving long enough to become orbital fragments.
American astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell has echoed this assessment in a series of observations. In a sequence of posts, he explains that the satellites were launched using a Proton rocket. Within the upper stages of that launcher, two small auxiliary engines played a role by managing propellant flow and providing a slight push to restart the main engines when needed. This description helps readers understand the mechanical chain that could lead to debris generation when such components separate or fail.
These components are part of what is known as the Launch Support System, or SOS. The SOS comprises roughly 64 units currently in Earth orbit. Understanding SOS helps clarify how legacy launches contribute to today’s debris field and why ongoing monitoring of such hardware matters to space operations and safety.
Experts note a recurring pattern with POP engines, which are propulsion units designed to burn only a portion of their allotted fuel during operation. Over time, sometimes after years or decades, these engines can undergo a failure mode that results in a sudden and dramatic eruption, leaving behind a cluster of debris in an extremely elliptical orbit. To date, at least 54 POP engines have experienced such explosions, highlighting a persistent risk in orbital debris science and mission planning.
When the POP engine involved in the April 15 event exploded, it was tracing a long elliptical orbit with a perigee of about 388 kilometers and an apogee near 19,074 kilometers. Observational data from space surveillance networks indicated at least 16 individual fragments from the explosion, illustrating how a single event can proliferate debris pieces across a wide orbital span. The implications extend to satellite operators, space situational awareness teams, and policy makers who weigh the risks of debris evolution and collision avoidance.
The April 15 event serves as a reminder of the complex life cycle of upper stage hardware, how it can transition from a planned, controlled motion to an unpredictable debris environment, and why robust debris mitigation remains a central concern for spaceflight programs and national security interests. (Attribution: multiple space surveillance and scientific analyses)