Starlink satellite anomaly at 418 km altitude. Loss of comms, venting of the propulsion tank, a rapid decay in semi-major axis by about 4 km, and the release of a small number of trackable low relative velocity objects.
Starlink states that there is no risk to the ISS. The largely intact tumbling satellite will reenter the atmosphere in a few weeks.
No explanation for the cause of the low velocity objects. An explosion?
@sundogplanets@mastodon.social
1/n
I missed this post from LeoLabs on Dec 18, where they noted that 10s of debris objects were detected from the Starlink 35956 anomaly event of 17 Dec 2025.
They also assessed that the satellite’s initial drop in orbital altitude was likely caused by an internal energetic source (e.g., an explosion) rather than a collision with space debris or another object.
Ed Lu of LeoLabs posted today 100s of debris objects being tracked.
No info on fragment sizes or apogee.
No new word from SpaceX.
2/n
RE: https://mastodon.online/@brianbilston/115745442380750782
Check out @brianbilston@mastodon.online for some very smile-worthy and literary poems and creative writings.
Also his website - https://brianbilston.com/
✍
️ 👍
😀
This is called ‘Twenty Modern-Day Proverbs’.
Starlink satellite anomaly at 418 km altitude. Loss of comms, venting of the propulsion tank, a rapid decay in semi-major axis by about 4 km, and the release of a small number of trackable low relative velocity objects.
Starlink states that there is no risk to the ISS. The largely intact tumbling satellite will reenter the atmosphere in a few weeks.
No explanation for the cause of the low velocity objects. An explosion?
@sundogplanets@mastodon.social
1/n
The rise and fall of iRobot, the maker of the Roomba household vacuum cleaner.
2/n
Why iRobot fell from grace?
Regulators?
Not embracing LiDAR?
China’s industrial policy?
U.S. tariffs?
Cheaper copycats?
"iRobot’s demise was caused by a perfect storm of all these factors piling on to the company. More importantly, iRobot’s situation isn’t any way unique, and should serve as a warning to every major American technology brand. It’s also a lesson in why companies need to deal with existential threats when they have the time and cash to do so."
https://www.engadget.com/home/what-happened-to-irobot-can-happen-to-anyone-164500625.html
3/n
The rise and fall of iRobot, the maker of the Roomba vacuum cleaner, files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and seeks acquisition by contract manufacturer.
Founded in 1990 by 3 members of MIT's Artificial Intelligence Lab, the company has struggled with declining sales and competing products.
iRobot will be acquired by its China-based primary contract manufacturer and lender, Picea Robotics.
https://www.businessinsider.com/irobot-roomba-bankruptcy-timeline-2025-12?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/irobot-announces-strategic-transaction-to-drive-long-term-growth-plan-302641744.html
1/n
The rise and fall of iRobot, the maker of the Roomba household vacuum cleaner.
2/n
The rise and fall of iRobot, the maker of the Roomba vacuum cleaner, files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and seeks acquisition by contract manufacturer.
Founded in 1990 by 3 members of MIT's Artificial Intelligence Lab, the company has struggled with declining sales and competing products.
iRobot will be acquired by its China-based primary contract manufacturer and lender, Picea Robotics.
https://www.businessinsider.com/irobot-roomba-bankruptcy-timeline-2025-12?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/irobot-announces-strategic-transaction-to-drive-long-term-growth-plan-302641744.html
1/n
"Blowing up Venezuelan boats is not about drug interdiction, it is about regime change.”
We knew that!
#UsPol
3/n
Dumb and dumber.
#UsPol
4/n
Additional coverage of the interviews of White House chief of staff Susie Wile at https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/16/us/politics/trump-susie-wiles.html?unlocked_article_code=1.9E8.frrm.-jW5tYAth_YV&smid=url-share
"Not only did she confirm that Mr. Trump is using criminal prosecution to retaliate against adversaries, she also acknowledged that he was not telling the truth when he accused former President Bill Clinton of visiting the private island of the sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein."
#UsPol
2/n
"Blowing up Venezuelan boats is not about drug interdiction, it is about regime change.”
We knew that!
#UsPol
3/n
Vanity Fair writer Chris Whipple's interviews of White House chief of staff Susie Wile, conducted over the year, reveals that -
trump “has an alcoholic’s personality"
JD Vance is a conspiracy theorist
Pam Bondi “completely whiffed” the early handling of the Epstein files
Elon Musk is “an avowed ketamine” user and “an odd, odd duck,” whose actions were not always “rational”
Russell T. Vought is “a right-wing absolute zealot”
Nothing surprising really.
More at https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/trump-susie-wiles-interview-exclusive-part-1
#UsPol
1/n
Additional coverage of the interviews of White House chief of staff Susie Wile at https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/16/us/politics/trump-susie-wiles.html?unlocked_article_code=1.9E8.frrm.-jW5tYAth_YV&smid=url-share
"Not only did she confirm that Mr. Trump is using criminal prosecution to retaliate against adversaries, she also acknowledged that he was not telling the truth when he accused former President Bill Clinton of visiting the private island of the sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein."
#UsPol
2/n
Vanity Fair writer Chris Whipple's interviews of White House chief of staff Susie Wile, conducted over the year, reveals that -
trump “has an alcoholic’s personality"
JD Vance is a conspiracy theorist
Pam Bondi “completely whiffed” the early handling of the Epstein files
Elon Musk is “an avowed ketamine” user and “an odd, odd duck,” whose actions were not always “rational”
Russell T. Vought is “a right-wing absolute zealot”
Nothing surprising really.
More at https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/trump-susie-wiles-interview-exclusive-part-1
#UsPol
1/n
AkaSci 🛰
️