Friday, 31 Oct 2025
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • DMCA
logo logo
  • World
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Economy
  • Tech & Science
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Education
    • Celebrities
    • Culture and Arts
    • Environment
    • Health and Wellness
    • Lifestyle
  • 🔥
  • Trump
  • VIDEO
  • House
  • White
  • ScienceAlert
  • Trumps
  • Watch
  • man
  • Health
  • Season
Font ResizerAa
American FocusAmerican Focus
Search
  • World
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Economy
  • Tech & Science
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Education
    • Celebrities
    • Culture and Arts
    • Environment
    • Health and Wellness
    • Lifestyle
Follow US
© 2024 americanfocus.online – All Rights Reserved.
American Focus > Blog > Tech and Science > Dead NASA satellite unexpectedly emits powerful radio pulse
Tech and Science

Dead NASA satellite unexpectedly emits powerful radio pulse

Last updated: June 20, 2025 11:40 pm
Share
Dead NASA satellite unexpectedly emits powerful radio pulse
SHARE

An illustration of NASA’s Relay 1 satellite, the precursor to Relay 2

NASA

A surprising event occurred when a long-dead satellite, NASA’s Relay 2, suddenly emitted a powerful radio pulse that momentarily became the brightest object in the sky. Scientists speculate that this unexpected flash could have been triggered by a rare micrometeorite impact or an incidental spark.

Initially launched in 1964 as an experimental communication tool, NASA’s Relay 2 satellite ceased operation in 1965, with its electronics failing completely by 1967, leaving it as space debris orbiting Earth indefinitely.

Researchers, led by Clancy James from Curtin University in Australia, were puzzled when they detected a brief but intense burst of radio waves emanating from the satellite’s presumed location almost 60 years later.

Utilizing the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP), a network of 36 radio telescopes in Western Australia, James and his team were scanning the cosmos for fast radio bursts, enigmatic bursts of energy originating from distant galaxies.

On 13 June of the previous year, they picked up a signal that seemed to originate within our Milky Way galaxy. Excited at the prospect of a new cosmic discovery, the scientists soon realized that the signal was in such proximity to Earth that ASKAP could not focus all its telescopes simultaneously, indicating a source within 20,000 kilometers of our planet. The signal was remarkably short-lived, lasting less than 30 nanoseconds, yet it surpassed all other celestial emissions in brightness during that brief period.

Further investigation pinpointed the signal’s origin to the vicinity of the defunct Relay 2 satellite. Given the satellite’s defunct state, the researchers posit that an external event, such as an electrostatic discharge or a micrometeorite impact generating a cloud of charged plasma, likely triggered the powerful radio pulse.

See also  Employer.com scoops up another fintech in purchase of MainStreet.com

Karen Aplin from the University of Bristol, UK, noted the challenges in distinguishing between the two scenarios based on the radio signal’s characteristics. However, she suggested that monitoring future electrostatic discharges from satellites could be beneficial. This detection could serve as a novel method for evaluating electrostatic discharges in space, particularly with the increasing presence of space debris and the proliferation of small, cost-effective satellites with limited protection against such discharges.

Topics:

TAGGED:deademitsNasapowerfulpulseradioSatelliteUnexpectedly
Share This Article
Twitter Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article Brunello Cucinelli Spring 2026 Menswear Collection Brunello Cucinelli Spring 2026 Menswear Collection
Next Article My exit from wartime Iran My exit from wartime Iran
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Popular Posts

How does your power bill compare to others?

Article by Susan Edmunds Are you curious about whether your electricity bill is considered "average"?…

April 28, 2025

Which one is right for you?

When it comes to choosing a bank, many people default to the big national banks…

April 5, 2025

Tulsi Gabbard Threatens Obama Admin With Criminal Referrals Over ‘Treasonous Conspiracy’

Tulsi Gabbard Obama, His Officials Were 'Treasonous' ... Lock Them Up!!! Published July 18, 2025…

July 18, 2025

Trump Pentagon Purging Climate Change Measures, Hegseth Says, Raising Military Readiness Concerns

The Defense Department is currently on a mission to eliminate all climate-related programs and studies.…

March 16, 2025

Death Toll in 1999 Columbine School Shooting Climbs to 14 With Homicide Ruling

The Columbine High School mass shooting, which took place on April 20, 1999, left a…

March 13, 2025

You Might Also Like

How Much Does Grocery Delivery App Development Cost in 2025?
Tech and Science

How Much Does Grocery Delivery App Development Cost in 2025?

October 31, 2025
Boy’s body was mummified and turned green by a copper coffin
Tech and Science

Boy’s body was mummified and turned green by a copper coffin

October 31, 2025
Bevel raises M Series A from General Catalyst for its AI health companion
Tech and Science

Bevel raises $10M Series A from General Catalyst for its AI health companion

October 31, 2025
Red Spider Nebula Holds a Secret in Its Glowing Heart, JWST Reveals : ScienceAlert
Tech and Science

Red Spider Nebula Holds a Secret in Its Glowing Heart, JWST Reveals : ScienceAlert

October 31, 2025
logo logo
Facebook Twitter Youtube

About US


Explore global affairs, political insights, and linguistic origins. Stay informed with our comprehensive coverage of world news, politics, and Lifestyle.

Top Categories
  • Crime
  • Environment
  • Sports
  • Tech and Science
Usefull Links
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • DMCA

© 2024 americanfocus.online –  All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?