Astronauts perplexed as long-dead Nasa space probe suddenly emits powerful energy blast
After 60 years, an ‘incredibly powerful’ pulse from this space probe has scientists baffled
- Astronomers at Australia's Curtin University have been left perplexed after detecting a powerful, brief energy blast from a long-dead experimental NASA satellite.
- The mysterious pulse was traced to NASA's Relay 2 satellite, which was launched in 1964 and stopped operating in 1967.
- Researchers believe the blast was likely caused by an electrostatic discharge resulting from a collision with a micrometeoroid or space debris.
- Electricity accumulates within spacecraft, which scientists suggest in this case led to a sudden, sharp discharge lasting only a billionth of a second upon impact.
- Scientists suggest such energy discharge events may be common and recommend retrofitting future space probes for better detection.