An American satellite abandoned in 1967 suddenly came back online and began transmitting again for the first time in 50 years:
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.
(Score: 5, Funny) by Bot on Thursday November 24 2016, @10:59AM
upon hearing the news of a 1967 sat back to life, a somehow concerned scientist went to report to his superior.
- sir, there are news that one old sat started transmitting, whose idea is it?
- nobodys, apparently the fucker started working by itself. it is a NFS one.
the scientist went pale.
- so it should have stayed dormant unless receiving commands for a nuclear first strike.
- yes, we are trying to send the go to sleep sequence, we are thinking of sending it as interference from other communication, many ears listening out there nowadays.
- sir, I suggest to send it right away, it is too risky.
- if the sat is malfunctioning, what will he do of the signal? and what about some stupid hacker with a mw radio playing with the signal. and POOF goes Paris?
- PARIS? was it pointed to Paris?
- we cover all bases, son.
- Is sure would be an interesting opening move to wwIII
- hey strange way to speak, do you hate Paris by chance?
- a fuckin camel herder stole my wallet there.
- heh, I was treated like shit at a restaurant there.
- maybe it's karma.
- shhhhhh don't mention that stuff again, everybody's upset that Trump was basically elected by memes here.
Account abandoned.
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 24 2016, @12:49PM
- shhhhhh don't mention that stuff again, everybody's upset that Trump was basically elected by memes here.
Sacre Bleu! So zat ees why eet happened. Zee Monsieur Trump was elected by mimes!
(Score: 2) by goodie on Thursday November 24 2016, @03:23PM
The beginning read like an Armageddon remake ;-). That could actually make for an interesting plot!
The second half was the parody remake of that movie :D
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 24 2016, @03:38PM
Me too. Also, when I was there one-legged pigeons were everywhere.