2023-04-29 04:45:00
It has already been 66 years since mankind’s first artificial satellite, ‘Sputnik’, was launched. These days, artificial satellites are flying into space every day. How old is the oldest artificial satellite currently orbiting the earth?
According to the astronomy world, there are regarding 7,600 artificial satellites created by humans and placed in Earth orbit so far. Currently, there are regarding 4,400 satellites orbiting the Earth performing missions. The age of the oldest artificial satellite still in active service without dying is 58 years old.
The protagonist who has reached his 60th birthday is ‘Lincoln Calibration Sphere 1’ launched by the Lincoln Laboratory of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on May 6, 1965.
This ball-shaped satellite made of aluminum requires neither power nor fuel. It has been orbiting the Earth for 58 years and has been on a mission to measure radar reflection characteristics on the ground and in space.
MIT Lincoln Laboratory said, “Satellites have different materials and functions depending on their mission, and their lifespan varies from as short as 2 years to as long as 15 years.” “The mission is very simple,” he said.
The ‘Lincoln Calibration Sphere No. 1’ made of aluminum with a thickness of regarding 3.2 mm is regarding 1.12 m in diameter. Radar shoots radio waves and measures the reflected radio waves to determine the position or direction of an object.
The MIT Lincoln Laboratory said, “This satellite does not have an active mission such as measuring the earth’s atmosphere or observing terrain, but it contributes to the zeroing of other radars, so it only needs to be suspended in the air.” He explained that he helped maintain it. In terms of people, he is like air.”
According to the institute, the ‘Lincoln Calibration Sphere’ satellites were launched followed by No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3, but the two aircraft were destroyed before long. Launched in 1971, 4 is still orbiting the Earth along with 1. The life expectancy of No. 1 is a whopping 30,000 years, and the research institute believes that it will probably survive longer than humans.
Reporter Jeong Ian anglee@sputnik.kr
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