From Gizmodo · · 1m
Cold War Spy Satellite Shatters in Orbit
A Cold War spy satellite named after Farrah Fawcett exploded in orbit, creating debris.
In brief
A Cold War spy satellite named after Farrah Fawcett exploded in orbit, creating debris. USA-32, a Cold War-era spy satellite named after Farrah Fawcett, unexpectedly broke apart in low-Earth orbit on September 13, 2026. Originally reported by Gizmodo.
Satellite Shatters
An American spy satellite unexpectedly shattered into pieces, creating a cloud of debris in low-Earth orbit.
USA-32 Breakup Confirmed
The U.S. Space Force confirmed USA-32 broke apart on September 13 at 5:13 p.m. ET, labeled a fragmentation event.
Cold War Origin
Launched in 1988, USA-32 was a Cold War-era intelligence satellite operated by the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).
FARRAH III Design
Designated FARRAH III, it was a large, squat cylindrical spacecraft resembling a tuna can, designed to intercept radio-frequency emissions.
Debris Tracking
Private company s2a systems tracked fragments after the satellite broke apart on September 13, 2026, at 2113 UTC.
Debris Risk
The explosion created debris that could endanger satellites in the future, though no immediate threats were identified.
The essence
USA-32, a Cold War-era spy satellite named after Farrah Fawcett, unexpectedly broke apart in low-Earth orbit on September 13, 2026.
