Who moved the oldest British satellite and for what purpose remains a mystery to scientists.
The 1969 British military satellite Skynet-1A unexpectedly changed its orbit by thousands of kilometers. Now it poses a threat to other spacecraft. The BBC reported it.
It was noted that scientists could not explain the reason for the movement of the satellite. The possibility of the satellite moving as a result of random drift has not been proven.
The UK Ministry of Defense continues to monitor Skynet-1A. This informs other satellite operators about possible collisions.
As you know, Skynet-1A was built by the American company Philco Ford and launched using a US Air Force Delta rocket. In 1969, Sputnik was launched into orbit off the east coast of Africa to transmit encrypted messages. A few years later, Skynet-1A failed. Scientists expect gravity to pull it eastward, causing it to fall into the Indian Ocean. However, Skynet-1A still hangs above the planet at an altitude of 36,000 km. The object is currently found in North and South America.
Let’s remember that in 2022, the British authorities granted a license to the Cornwall spaceport, which will be able to launch the first orbital satellite in the country’s history.
It was also reported that last year Virgin Orbit made the first launch of a spacecraft from the UK. The LauncherOne rocket did not enter orbit.
Source: korrespondent
I am Ben Stock, a passionate and experienced digital journalist working in the news industry. At the Buna Times, I write articles covering technology developments and related topics. I strive to provide reliable information that my readers can trust. My research skills are top-notch, as well as my ability to craft engaging stories on timely topics with clarity and accuracy.