NanoAvionics Satellite Suffers Space Debris Impact, Selfie Image Shows Damage

In October 2024, Kongsberg NanoAvionics discovered damage to their MP42 satellite, and used the discovery as an opportunity to raise awareness on the need to reduce space debris generated by satellites.

Kongsberg NanoAvionics, Vilnius, Lithuania

Our MP42 satellite, which launched into low Earth orbit (LEO) two and a half years ago aboard the SpaceX Transporter-4 mission, recently took an unexpected hit from a small piece of space debris or micrometeoroid. The impact created a 6 mm hole, roughly the size of a chickpea, in one of its solar panels.

Despite this damage, the satellite continued performing its mission without interruption, and we only discovered the impact thanks to an image taken by its onboard selfie camera in October of 2024. It is challenging to pinpoint exactly when the impact occurred because MP42's last selfie was taken a year and a half ago, in April of 2023.