USA 32 spy satellite fragments in orbit

The American spy satellite USA 32, also known by the code name FARRAH III, fragmented in orbit on September 13, 2026. Launched in 1988 during the Cold War via a Titan II rocket, the satellite operated under a classified program managed by the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).

Recently declassified information revealed that the satellite's mission was electronic intelligence, specifically designed to intercept Soviet radar and radio signals across frequencies between 2 and 18 GHz. Although it had been out of operational service for a long time, it remained in orbit for nearly four decades.

The cause of the disintegration remains unconfirmed. Potential theories include internal failure due to decades of thermal cycling, collisions with space debris, meteorite impacts, or even space weapon testing. The US Space Force confirmed the event through its Space-Track surveillance system. The fragmentation has created a cloud of orbital debris at an altitude of approximately 775 kilometers, increasing the risk of collisions in an already congested orbital zone.