NASA's Relay 2 satellite, which had been inactive since 1967, surprised researchers last summer by emitting a powerful burst of energy. Detected by the Australian Square Kilometer Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) telescope, the brief signal outshone everything around it, leading researchers from Curtin University to investigate its source. They eventually traced the pulse back to the long-defunct satellite, prompting speculation about its cause, including the possibility of a collision or an electrostatic discharge after years of inactivity. The incident highlights challenges posed by increasing space debris orbiting Earth.
NASA's Relay 2 satellite, defunct since 1967, unexpectedly emitted a powerful burst of energy, raising questions about its cause and the implications of space debris.
The discovery was made by researchers using the ASKAP telescope, who initially thought they might have found a new pulsar due to the signal's intensity.
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