A Cold War-era American spy satellite broke apart in orbit last month, scattering debris across a busy region of space, satellite trackers confirmed. USA 32, launched on September 5, 1988, aboard a Titan II rocket for the National Reconnaissance Office, fragmented on September 13 at an altitude of about 775 kilometres. The satellite, catalogued as NORAD 19460, carried a signals-intelligence payload known as FARRAH III.

US Space Force’s Space Domain Awareness unit confirmed the breakup on September 17. The cause remains unknown, and no collision has been confirmed. About 200 active satellites orbit nearby, raising concerns about long-term collision risk.

Analysts say debris at that altitude can remain in orbit for decades. The incident is a reminder of the growing hazard posed by ageing spacecraft, as thousands of new satellites crowd low Earth orbit. Trackers are monitoring the fragment cloud to catalogue pieces and update collision warnings.

Space Force trackers are cataloguing the fragments to refine collision warnings for nearby operators.