Old NASA satellite sends surprise signal

A NASA satellite, silent for nearly 60 years, shocked scientists by sending a brief but powerful radio burst last summer. The Relay 2 satellite, launched in 1964 and inactive since 1967, emitted a 30-nanosecond pulse detected by Australian researchers using the Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder telescope on June 13, 2024. This unexpected signal was brighter than anything else in the radio sky for that fleeting moment.

Experts believe the burst may have come from a small meteoroid or space debris hitting the satellite, causing an electrostatic discharge. Such events are rare but not unheard of, with similar incidents recorded in 2002 and 2010. The discovery, detailed in a study awaiting peer review, has researchers curious about what triggered the long-dormant satellite.

This finding could help improve radio astronomy by offering new ways to detect space debris or electrostatic discharges. It also highlights the challenges of managing old satellites and junk orbiting Earth. Scientists are now eager to learn more about Relay 2’s sudden activity and what it means for future space exploration.