Scientists in Australia made a surprising discovery last month when they picked up a brief burst of electromagnetic radiation from space. The signal, which lasted only 30 nanoseconds, was so strong that it eclipsed all other signals coming from the sky. Initially, researchers thought it might be a new object or phenomenon, but further analysis revealed that the source was none other than a zombie satellite left in orbit around Earth.
The satellite, Relay-2, was launched in 1964 and had been dead since its two transponders failed in 1967. However, on June 13, 2024, astronomers at the Australian Square Kilometer Array Pathfinder detected a strong signal that matched the expected radiation pattern of the Van Allen radiation belt. Further investigation confirmed that Relay-2 was indeed responsible for the mysterious pulse.
Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are brief and powerful pulses of radio waves that can release as much energy as an entire galaxy. The FRB detected in June 2024 was particularly strong and coincided with Relay-2 flying directly overhead at the time. Scientists believe that the satellite may have built up electricity over the years and then suddenly discharged it, or possibly been struck by a micrometeorite.
As more defunct satellites continue to orbit Earth, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for scientists to distinguish between natural phenomena and malfunctioning hardware. This raises concerns about the potential for future “zombie satellites” to emit unexpected signals that could be mistaken for extraterrestrial activity.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/nasa-satellite-thats-been-dead-for-57-years-sends-mysterious-signal-to-earth-2000619464