NASA zombie satellite might sound unique. However, actually this is one of the phenomena that is quite confusing. NASA space scientists questioned this incident.
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How not, scientists have just detected new signals from satellites. Uniquely, the satellite has been dead or in an offline state since 1967. That is why, this satellite is known as ‘zombie satellite’.
New signal from Nasa zombie satellite
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NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration is a government institution owned by the United States. They are responsible for Civil Space. NASA’s task also includes aeronautics and space research.
This one institution is quite meritorious in the world of space research. In this case, NASA is one of the leaders. They have advanced technology to support this research.
Certainly NASA launched several sophisticated satellites. Generally these satellites are useful to help analyze phenomena that can occur in space. Some old satellites in space are even offline or dead.
However, recently scientists received shocking news after receiving a signal from one of their old satellites. The satellite has long died and does not operate. However, suddenly there was a super strong radio pulse from its orbit.
The mysterious signal detected
In June 2024, astronomers got a strange radio signal surprise. The signal was very strong and even caught by a radio telescope in Western Australia. In fact, the signal did not come from the galaxy far as usual.
Instead, the signal comes from his own galaxy, the Milky Way. The most astonishing thing is the signal center which turned out to be from NASA’s old satellite. Relay 2 satellite launched in 1964 and has been inactive since 1967.
After offline for quite a long time, of course the appearance of the signal is very surprising. Australian Square Kilometer Array Pathfinder (Askap) detects NASA Zombie satellite satellite signals while scanning the sky to find fast radio bursts (Fast Radio Bursts/FRB).
FRB is a short but very strong radio wave. Usually these signals come from distant galaxies. However, this time they found new things.
According to Clancy James, the lead author of study and professor of Curtin University’s Institute of Radio Astronomy in Australia, the radio pulse is very strong. In fact, the throbbing is brighter than anything in the sky at that time even though it only lasted briefly.
Relay 2 Pangit after 60 years?
This NASA zombie satellite issued a mysterious signal which lasted around 30 nanodetic. The time is too short to come from an active communication system. The researchers also crossed out the possibility that there was a deliberate transmission from the satellite.
In fact, relay 2 has been a died satellite since 60 years. Even so, relay 2 Sempa is an important part of NASA’s initial communication program. It’s just that two satellite transponders were damaged only after three years of launch and made him never send more signals.
However, based on signal tracking by researchers, they believe that relay 2 is the only logical candidate. They agreed that the light came from the old satellite with several possibilities.
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The research team found two important hypotheses. First, there is a micro meteoroid collision which is a collision of high -speed cosmic dust. The collision can produce plasma clouds around the satellite which eventually creates an electric field and release radio waves.
The second hypothesis is this NASA zombie satellite to release an electric charge (Electrostatic Discharge / ESD). Old satellites like late 2 may be made of materials that can withstand large electrical charges. If the charge is suddenly released, it can produce a fairly strong radio pulse.
Zombie satellite, when the old technology returns to life
The unique facts in the world of space are existence “Zombie Satellite” The term used to refer to satellites that suddenly actively return after years of not functioning. These satellites usually lose orbit, lose power, or experience technical failures that make it no longer controlled from the earth. However, in some cases, this satellite surprisingly again gives a signal or can even function again.
One of the most famous examples is the Galaxy 15, the Telecommunications Satellite owned by Intelsat which slid in 2005. In April 2010, Galaxy 15 came out of its orbit slot and lost contact. Even so, the system is still active, and in December 2010, this satellite did reboot automatic. Intelsat finally managed to return it to its original position.
The oldest zombie satellite record is held by Amsat-Oscar 7, an amateur radio satellite that slid in November 1974. This satellite stopped operating in 1981 due to battery failure. However, on June 21, 2002, 21 years later the signal was detected again, and the satellite began actively communicating again.
CONCLUSION Research
That way, actually relay 2 is not really active again. It’s just that, this discovery and study will still be very important in the future.
If it is true that there is an electrostatic release or a micro meteoroid collision. then scientists can get a new understanding. That way, this understanding will help protect satellites in the future. They will not get a similar disturbance.
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That’s what actually happened to NASA zombie satellite. This satellite has a very important role at the time of its launch and one of the most sophisticated. Now relay 2 has raised an unusual mysterious signal after 60 years offline. (R10/HR-Online)
