A NASA satellite that had been inactive for almost sixty years surprised astronomers by sending a signal in June 2024. Researchers in Australia detected unusual radio waves using a telescope, which were much closer to Earth than expected. Upon further investigation, it was found that the signal originated from a NASA spacecraft that had ceased operations around 58 years ago.
The spacecraft, known as NASA’s Relay 2, was launched in 1964 and operated until 1967. Despite the signal, astronomers believe the satellite is not operational and unlikely to come back to life. The signal was likely caused by a discharge of built-up electricity within the spacecraft passing through the charged environment above Earth’s atmosphere.
Although the signal was initially thought to be from a fast radio burst in the distant universe, it was later determined to have originated within our own Milky Way galaxy. The event lasted less than 30 nanoseconds and was detected by Australia’s ASKAP radio telescope.
Further research led by astrophysicists suggested that the anomaly could have been caused by an impact with a micrometeoroid in space, creating a burst of radio waves. The discovery sheds light on the potential threats posed by electrostatic discharges to satellites in Earth’s orbit.
Overall, this finding not only helps identify the origins of such signals in the future but also contributes to a better understanding of the risks associated with electrostatic discharges in space.
“This discovery illustrates how the instruments designed for observing the far reaches of the Universe can aid scientists in comprehending the densely populated and crucial space environment near Earth,” stated the researcher. The study is set to be published in Astrophysical Journal Letters, and a pre-print of the paper can be accessed on arXiv. Contact Eric Lagatta, the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network, at elagatta@gannett.com. This story first appeared on USA TODAY: Decades after launch, dormant NASA satellite from Florida suddenly emits a ‘spark’: What caused it?
