Space is a strange place, and yet again, an occurrence has baffled scientists. A satellite that has been dead for more than 50 years has drifted away thousands of miles. Something seems to have moved it away from where it should be. The satellite was supposed to spend its last days in a quiet place in orbit but is strangely hovering over the Americas.&nbsp;

Skynet-1A was launched into a geostationary orbit over Eastern Africa in 1969 and was used by the British military for communications. After its job was done, it was supposed to move to a place where it didn't risk colliding with other defunct spacecraft.&nbsp;

However, the satellite is in an altogether new location and is believed to have been steered there by a mysterious command, BBC reported. It is currently 36,000 km above the Americas. The dead satellite now stands the risk of coming into contact with other pieces of space junk.

BBC reporter Jonathan Amos investigated Skynet-1A's trip and says that it was likely moved in the 1970s. Reportedly, Americans might have something to do with it.

Based on the report, there is no way Skynet-1A could have drifted to its current location by itself. So someone definitely fired the satellite's thrusters to move it towards the West.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/how-to-spot-comets-that-can-impact-earth-look-at-the-trail-scientists-suggest-775835">How to spot comets that can impact Earth? Look at the t(r)ail, scientists suggest</a>

<h2>Skynet-1A didn't end up in graveyard</h2>

The satellite was built in the US and launched on board the US Air Force’s Delta rocket. Washington tested it as well before handing over its command to the Royal Air Force. As per some documents, the control of Skynet-1A went back to the US in June 1977, the BBC report stated.

This is when the US supposedly steered it away. However, satellites in GEO always remain in the same spot over Earth's surface. But the last manoeuvre moved it towards the Americas when it should have lifted towards a higher orbit and moved to the orbital graveyard, a place where defunct satellites go.

The anomaly has led the UK’s Ministry of Defence to keep a watch on the satellite to ensure no collisions happen. Space debris is a bigger problem today, with experts raising the alarm, saying that it is a matter of when and not if a space collision might occur. 
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Space is a strange place, and yet again, an occurrence has baffled scientists. A satellite that has been dead for more than 50 years has drifted away thousands of miles.

Space is a strange place, and yet again, an occurrence has baffled scientists. A satellite that has been dead for more than 50 years has drifted away thousands of miles. Something seems to have moved it away from where it should be. The satellite was supposed to spend its last days in a quiet place in orbit but is strangely hovering over the Americas. Skynet-1A was launched into a geostationary orbit over Eastern Africa in 1969 and was used by the British military for communications. After its job was done, it was supposed to move to a place where it didn't risk colliding with other defunct spacecraft. However, the satellite is in an altogether new location and is believed to have been steered there by a mysterious command, BBC reported. It is currently 36,000 km above the Americas. The dead satellite now stands the risk of coming into contact with other pieces of space junk. BBC reporter Jonathan Amos investigated Skynet-1A's trip and says that it was likely moved in the 1970s. Reportedly, Americans might have something to do with it. Based on the report, there is no way Skynet-1A could have drifted to its current location by itself. So someone definitely fired the satellite's thrusters to move it towards the West. Also Read: How to spot comets that can impact Earth? Look at the t(r)ail, scientists suggest Skynet-1A didn't end up in graveyard The satellite was built in the US and launched on board the US Air Force’s Delta rocket. Washington tested it as well before handing over its command to the Royal Air Force. As per some documents, the control of Skynet-1A went back to the US in June 1977, the BBC report stated. This is when the US supposedly steered it away. However, satellites in GEO always remain in the same spot over Earth's surface. But the last manoeuvre moved it towards the Americas when it should have lifted towards a higher orbit and moved to the orbital graveyard, a place where defunct satellites go. The anomaly has led the UK’s Ministry of Defence to keep a watch on the satellite to ensure no collisions happen. Space debris is a bigger problem today, with experts raising the alarm, saying that it is a matter of when and not if a space collision might occur.

Satellite dead for over 50 years mysteriously travels halfway around the world

The European Space Agency (ESA) on Monday (Feb 19) released images of a dead satellite as it tumbles down to Earth in what could potentially be a fiery spectacle.

The dead satellite was part of ESA's scientific Earth-monitoring mission called ERS-2. It was launched on April 21, 1995, and after a 16-year career, it retired in 2011.

During the time it was active, the ERS-2 collected data on polar ice, changing land surfaces, sea-level rise, warming oceans and atmospheric chemistry. Additionally, the satellite was also pressed into service during natural disasters in remote regions.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/doomed-european-satellite-to-crash-on-earth-in-six-days-but-nobody-knows-where-690567">European satellite to crash into Earth in six days. The exact place is eerily a mystery</a>

The dead satellite weighs approximately 5,057 pounds (2,293.82 kg) and is expected to start disintegrating at about 50 miles (80.47 kilometres) above the ground. While most of it will burn up completely in the Earth's atmosphere, the ESA estimates that the "largest fragment of the satellite that could reach the ground is 115 pounds"&nbsp;or around 52 kg.

Check out the pictures of the "tumbling descent" here:

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ERS-2 spotted! 📸🛰️ 
 
The ESA satellite is on a tumbling descent that will lead to its atmospheric reentry and break up this week. 
 
These images of ERS-2 were captured by <a href="https://twitter.com/heospace?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@heospace</a> for <a href="https://twitter.com/spacegovuk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@spacegovuk</a> using cameras on board other satellites.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ERS2reentry?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ERS2reentry</a> <a href="https://t.co/GTuubP6apJ">pic.twitter.com/GTuubP6apJ</a>
— ESA Operations (@esaoperations) <a href="https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1759518956891557949?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
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These images were captured by cameras on board other satellites by Australian company HEO on behalf of the UK Space Agency.

<h2>When will the dead satellite crash onto Earth?</h2>

As per estimates by the ESA's Space Debris Office, the ERS-2 satellite will make its re-entry around 19:24 UTC (Coordinated Universal Time, earlier called Greenwich Mean Time or GMT) on Wednesday (Feb&nbsp;21).

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/japan-launches-debris-removal-spacecraft-to-tackle-space-junk-691743">Japan launches debris removal spacecraft to tackle space junk</a>

However, it must be noted that the prediction is uncertain by +/- 9.91 hours. This unpredictability, as per the space agency, is primarily due to the "influence of unpredictable solar activity, which affects the density of Earth’s atmosphere and therefore the drag experienced by the satellite."

<h2>Can the dead satellite crash on someone?</h2>

The European Space Agency estimates put the probability of the dead satellite crashing on someone's head at one in a billion.&nbsp;

"The odds of a piece of satellite falling on someone’s head is estimated at one in a billion."

It says that given that approximately 71 per cent of the Earth's surface is covered with water, the odds are that "the satellite will make a big splash somewhere."

(With inputs from agencies)

The European Space Agency (ESA) on Monday (Feb 19) released images of a dead satellite as it tumbles down to Earth in what could potentially be a fiery spectacle.

The European Space Agency (ESA) on Monday (Feb 19) released images of a dead satellite as it tumbles down to Earth in what could potentially be a fiery spectacle. The dead satellite was part of ESA's scientific Earth-monitoring mission called ERS-2. It was launched on April 21, 1995, and after a 16-year career, it retired in 2011. During the time it was active, the ERS-2 collected data on polar ice, changing land surfaces, sea-level rise, warming oceans and atmospheric chemistry. Additionally, the satellite was also pressed into service during natural disasters in remote regions. Also read | European satellite to crash into Earth in six days. The exact place is eerily a mystery The dead satellite weighs approximately 5,057 pounds (2,293.82 kg) and is expected to start disintegrating at about 50 miles (80.47 kilometres) above the ground. While most of it will burn up completely in the Earth's atmosphere, the ESA estimates that the "largest fragment of the satellite that could reach the ground is 115 pounds" or around 52 kg. Check out the pictures of the "tumbling descent" here: ERS-2 spotted! 📸🛰️ The ESA satellite is on a tumbling descent that will lead to its atmospheric reentry and break up this week. These images of ERS-2 were captured by @heospace for @spacegovuk using cameras on board other satellites.#ERS2reentry pic.twitter.com/GTuubP6apJ — ESA Operations (@esaoperations) February 19, 2024 × These images were captured by cameras on board other satellites by Australian company HEO on behalf of the UK Space Agency. When will the dead satellite crash onto Earth? As per estimates by the ESA's Space Debris Office, the ERS-2 satellite will make its re-entry around 19:24 UTC (Coordinated Universal Time, earlier called Greenwich Mean Time or GMT) on Wednesday (Feb 21). Also read | Japan launches debris removal spacecraft to tackle space junk However, it must be noted that the prediction is uncertain by +/- 9.91 hours. This unpredictability, as per the space agency, is primarily due to the "influence of unpredictable solar activity, which affects the density of Earth’s atmosphere and therefore the drag experienced by the satellite." Can the dead satellite crash on someone? The European Space Agency estimates put the probability of the dead satellite crashing on someone's head at one in a billion. "The odds of a piece of satellite falling on someone’s head is estimated at one in a billion." It says that given that approximately 71 per cent of the Earth's surface is covered with water, the odds are that "the satellite will make a big splash somewhere." (With inputs from agencies)

ESA shares pics of dead satellite tumbling towards Earth; can it fall on someone’s head? All you need to know

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