Astronomers have detected a mysterious radio burst from a dead NASA satellite, shedding new light on the phenomenon of electrostatic discharges. The signal came from Relay 2, a communications satellite launched in 1964 and operational until its retirement in 1967.
Researchers at Australia’s Curtin University used a system of 36 radio telescopes to detect the 30-nanosecond pulse last June. Initially, they thought it was a fast radio burst (FRB), which often originates from distant galaxies. However, closer analysis revealed that the signal came from our own Milky Way.
Further investigation led the team to conclude that Relay 2 was the source of the signal, given its proximity to Earth and the fact that it hadn’t been in operation since 1967. The satellite’s distance from Earth at the time of the event may have contributed to the strong signal detected by researchers.
Two possible explanations for the burst were proposed: electrostatic discharge due to a build-up of electricity, or a micrometeorite hitting the satellite. Researchers favor the former explanation due to its rarity and the fact that other bursts with similar characteristics were detected from GPS satellites years ago.
While more research is needed to fully understand this phenomenon, scientists acknowledge the potential usefulness of future efforts to monitor electrostatic discharges in space. This detection may ultimately aid in developing models for mitigating damage to satellites caused by such events.
Source: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/astronomers-detected-a-mysterious-radio-burst-it-turned-out-to-be-from-a-dead-nasa-satellite-180986884