A bright fireball streaked across the night sky near the Midwest U.S. on Tuesday (Jan. 28), captured by observers, as a SpaceX Starlink satellite burned up during its normal orbit decay process. The satellite, identified as Starlink 5693, reentered Earth’s atmosphere around 3:03 to 3:05 UTC Jan. 29 (9:03 to 9:05 p.m. CST), sparking reports from regions including Chicago and Wisconsin-Michigan.
The event was part of a routine process for SpaceX’s Starlink satellites, which typically last about five years in low Earth orbit before being deliberately deorbited to burn up as they fall back to Earth. Such reentries often produce dazzling fireballs that catch the eye of stargazers. “WOAH. Something big just broke apart above Northern Illinois. What a sight!” one observer noted on social media, sharing videos of the fiery satellite streaking over rooftops and trees.
Starlink 5693 was among thousands of satellites in orbit as part of SpaceX’s global satellite megaconstellation designed to provide high-speed internet service worldwide. Its reentry occurred sporadically, with about four to five satellites disappearing each day across various regions. Despite being an unusual occurrence for many observers, it aligns with expectations for this particular satellite and its lifespan.
The incident underscores the routine nature of these events while highlighting the stunning visuals they produce, offering a glimpse into the meticulous process of maintaining and decommissioning space debris.
Source: https://www.space.com/stargazing/spacex-starlink-satellite-sparks-brilliant-fireball-as-it-falls-from-space-over-us-videos