The recent and unexpected maneuver of the British military satellite Skynet-1A, launched back in 1969, has become a mystery for scientists and satellite operators. The change in its orbit by several thousand kilometers endangered the safety of other spacecraft, leaving open questions about the causes of this phenomenon.
Skynet-1A was built by the American company Philco Ford and launched using the Delta rocket of the US Air Force. Its initial mission was to transmit coded messages for Great Britain. The satellite failed a few years after launch, and scientists predicted it would gradually move under the influence of gravity towards the Indian Ocean. However, the satellite, contrary to expectations, remained in orbit and has now moved over North and South America.
The current position of Skynet-1A creates potential risks for other space objects. The change in orbit worries the scientific community, which does not yet have an explanation for this phenomenon. According to experts, random drift seems unlikely, but there is also a lack of evidence to support other hypotheses.
The UK Ministry of Defense keeps Skynet-1A under close surveillance, informing the operators of other satellites about its possible trajectories and possible collisions. This emphasizes the importance of international cooperation in ensuring the safety of orbital space, because even inactive satellites can pose a threat due to an unpredictable change in orbit.
