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WG3K > ANS 22.05.24 08:44l 48 Lines 2579 Bytes #60 (0) @ AMSAT
BID : $ANS140.4
Read: GUEST
Subj: Lost and Found: Missing Satellite Rediscovered
Path: IZ3LSV<ED1ZAC<GB7CIP<VK2RZ<KC9UHI<KA1VSC<WG3K
Sent: 240520/0139Z 4478@WG3K.#SMD.MD.USA.NOAM LinBPQ6.0.24
After 25 years lost in the vastness of space, a missing satellite has
finally been located, highlighting the challenges of tracking the multitude
of objects orbiting Earth. The rediscovery sheds light on the difficulty of
monitoring the approximately 27,000 objects that populate Earthâ€Ös orbit, a
number that continues to grow with each rocket launch and satellite
deployment.
The satellite in question, the Infra-Red Calibration Balloon (S73-7), was
part of the United States Air Forceâ€Ös Space Test Program and was launched
in 1974. Its purpose was to serve as a calibration target for remote
sensing equipment, but a deployment failure left it adrift as space debris.
Despite initial attempts to track its whereabouts, it vanished from
ground-based sensors in the 1990s, only to resurface last month.
*The Air Forceâ€Ös KH-9 Hexagon satellite deployed the tiny IRCB (S73-7)
satellite in 1974. (Illustration: U.S. Air Force)*
Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center
for Astrophysics, discovered the satelliteâ€Ös reappearance while reviewing
archival data. He explained that the satelliteâ€Ös low radar cross section
and possible malfunctioning equipment made it difficult to detect. This
underscores the challenges faced by ground-based radar and optical sensors
tasked with monitoring objects in orbit.
Tracking objects in space is akin to air traffic control, with sensors
relying on identifying the orbit of moving objects and matching them with
designated satellite orbits. However, this becomes increasingly complex as
Earthâ€Ös orbit becomes more congested, particularly in geostationary orbit
where monitoring is hindered by a lack of radars positioned precisely on
the equator.
*A screenshot of a screenshot of a graph Description automatically
generated*
The Department of Defenseâ€Ös Space Surveillance Network currently tracks
over 27,000 objects, predominantly defunct satellites and debris. As the
number of satellites and rocket launches continues to rise, maintaining
accurate tracking becomes crucial to mitigate the risk of collisions and
space debris hazards.
While the rediscovery of the missing satellite serves as a reminder of the
challenges of space tracking, it also underscores the importance of
continued efforts to monitor and manage Earthâ€Ös orbital environment. With
technology evolving and space activity increasing, effective space
surveillance remains paramount to ensure the safety and sustainability of
activities in Earthâ€Ös orbit.
[ANS thanks Passant Rabie, Gizmodo, for the above information]
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