After 25 years adrift, a satellite launched in 1974, the Infra-Red Calibration Balloon (S73-7), has been located with the help of tracking data from the U.S. Space Force.

Originally part of the Hexagon System, it was intended to inflate and serve as a calibration target for remote sensing equipment but failed to do so.

Drifting into obscurity, it was rediscovered in April.

According to astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell, the satellite’s low radar cross section made it difficult to detect.

Tracking space junk presents challenges due to the sheer number of objects in orbit, exceeding 20,000. Ground-based radar and optical sensors aid in tracking, but identifying each object is complex.

Matching orbital data with satellites’ paths is necessary, but variations in maneuvering plans or drifts can complicate tracking efforts, Space.com has reported.

Discoveries like this are crucial for monitoring the growing number of satellites and debris in orbit, ensuring the safety of space activities.

However, as satellite launches increase, so too will the challenge of monitoring and mitigating potential threats posed by space debris.

Written by B.C. Begley