American Satellite Abandoned In 1967 Mysteriously Comes Back Online after 50 years!

Wow this satellite just came back on!! An old MIT sat that had some flaws in the circuitry started to transmit for the first time in 50 years.

An American satellite abandoned in 1967 suddenly came back online and began transmitting again for the first time in 50 years

Read more: dailycaller.com...

A mistake in the circuitry cause the sat to never leave its circular orbit. It is thought that the sat only transmits when the solar panels are in sun light becasue the batteries are trashed.

Amateur astronomers first suspected that they’d found the satellite in 2013, but needed years to confirm that it was still occasionally transmitting. The satellite, dubbed LES1, was built by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and launched into space in 1965.


A mistake in the satellite’s circuitry caused it to never leave its circular orbit, and it eventually stop transmitting in 1967. The satellite’s signal now fluctuates widely in strength, meaning that it’s likely only transmitting when its solar panels are in direct sunlight. Scientists expect that the satellite’s onboard batteries have disintegrated.

Read more: dailycaller.com...

a reply to: seasonal

V'ger is back.


How cool is it. Now, what if we see a second one, and a third one doing the same?

a reply to: seasonal

Aliens!!! Nb4

a reply to: Trueman

I'd say hide but where?

We still have whales right? It can only talk to the whales ...

a reply to: ketsuko

Did I miss something?

We still have whales right? It can only talk to the whales .

originally posted by: seasonal
a reply to: ketsuko

Did I miss something?

We still have whales right? It can only talk to the whales .

Star Trek IV

For some reason, I was getting it mixed up with V'ger.

a reply to: Trueman

...or if it starts transmitting a prerecorded message from...you know, 👆 T H E M ?!

a reply to: seasonal

Obviously Startrek lol

a reply to: Sakrateri
Makes you wonder if a loose wire suddenly made the connection. 50 years old and it still works. Amazing.

a reply to: ketsuko

Ok, you star trek fans are a different lot.

www.pe0sat.vgnet.nl...

More info

a reply to: hellobruce
Really interesting story, how would you have liked to be the tech who wired her up?

The signal seems to be discovered in 2013 .

In February and March 2013, Amateur Radio sources announced that an amateur radio satellite enthusiast, Phil Williams G3YPQ, from North Cornwall, UK, had detected signals from LES1 and determined the source after searching for identifying information on the internet. LES1 was determined to be tumbling at about a 4-second interval (rotation speed) as determined by distinctive fading of the signals. It has been suggested that, after 46 years, the batteries have failed in a manner that allows them to carry charge directly through to the transmitter on 237 MHz, allowing it to start up when it is in sunlight.

a reply to: 0bserver1

2013 or 2016? regardless this is a cool topic.
Btw your link was great reading as were the comments in the article, plus a link to hear the satellite transmission! I had no idea this was a hobby so I'm just blown away.

They don't make them like they used to, I'm lucky if my mobile lasts the life of the contract!

a reply to: 0bserver1

It has been suggested that, after 46 years, the batteries have failed in a manner that allows them to carry charge directly through to the transmitter on 237 MHz, allowing it to start up when it is in sunlight.

Hm...I find it...somewhat unbelievable. Though admittedly...I know jack sh** about satellite technology.

As far as I understand it...it wasnt transmitting for 40 years or it wasnt detected to be transmitting for 40 years ? If it wasnt transmitting at all...the theory would than state that once the degradation of the onboard battery was sever enough...the thing started working again...? or...the thing was circulating and transmitting for 40 years and we're completely unaware of it...and then we ask...were are the aliens...why arent we seeing them ?

The answer is as always...right in front of our eyes.

a reply to: MarioOnTheFly

Maybe it got hit by a space rock or piece of space junk and jarred it in such a manner that it started to work again, obviously if you can't fix it with the hammer it's an electrical problem

Thats all Trump's doing, even dormant satellites want to be great again!