New Delhi: For less than a second time in the sky, suddenly something shone as if a black hole had exploded. But when scientists investigated, the limit of surprise was exceeded. This mysterious energy explosion came from not just a distant thing, but from just 4,500 kilometers away from the earth. And a satellite came out behind it which was declared ‘Mara Ho’ about 50 years ago. Australians of Cutin University in Australia recently recorded a very fast energy signal, which left behind everything else in the night sky. Initially scientists thought that it would have come from a neutron star (Pulsar) or an unknown cosmic source, but the distance analysis made it clear that the source of the signal is very close to the Earth.
Rlay 2 satellite launched in 1964After intensive studies, scientists found that the explosion came from an old NASA satellite Relay 2, which was launched in 1964 and was considered inactive in 1967 after just three years. Rlay 2 was an experimental satellite, used for experimental communication system.
Now half a century later, this dead satellite suddenly became active. It became a source of an acute energy explosion, which shocked scientists.
What happened with that ‘dead’ satellite?
According to researchers, electrons and charge particles were accumulating in the satellite for decades. When he collided with a micrometeoroid or space junk (space debris), the accumulated electrical charge inside turned into an electrostatic discharge i.e. static electrical immersion.
This immersion created a sharp but short -term energy signal, the duration of which was just a nanosecond (one billion part of a second).
Scientists say that the process of charging spacecraft is not new. The contact with plasma and charge particles in the space causes electrons on the surface of the satellite, so that when the voltage reaches a certain extent, there may be discharge between the two surfaces. But this explosion, which came out of Relay 2, was one of the fastest and most intense events recorded so far.
Can these incidents be normal?
The study also said that such incidents could be more, but our techniques must have been unable to catch them. Scientists suggested that future space missions and sky monitoring equipment should be better designed to detect such unexpected energy explosions.
At present, such incidents are not a direct threat to the Earth, but it is a warning that it is very difficult to estimate when the space reacts. Old debris can also be suddenly active and can create new challenges for scientists.
