NASA satellite found missing in space for 12 years

Twelve years after NASA gave up hope of finding the IMAGE satellite, an amateur astronomer has offered a chance to restore contact with the device, International Business Times reported. Scott Tilley, who has a hobby of searching for top-secret satellites, picked up a signal from a satellite coded "2000-017A" while searching for recently lost parts of the Zuma satellite. After comparing the orbit of the found object, Tilley was able to confirm that it was the long-lost IMAGE satellite.

In 2000, NASA launched the Imaging Magnetosphere to Aurora (IMAGE) satellite to study Earth’s magnetosphere and its interaction with the Sun. The massive technological device acted as a telescope, and did its job so well that its operational life was extended by two years.

However, after several years and 37 detections, the satellite's power controller failed and lost contact with NASA. "We did not receive IMAGE's telemetry signal on schedule," NASA said when it announced the satellite was lost in 2005.

The satellite was reactivated for some reason and began transmitting signals. Tilley announced the discovery on his personal page and speculated that some of the orbiting satellite's equipment may still be functioning, helping to continue the $150 million mission.

“This serendipitous discovery is really good news because the satellite still exists,” said Patricia Reiff, the mission’s investigator. “The team is holding their breath waiting for the exchange of information between IMAGE and the ground.”

While it’s not yet clear exactly how the satellite rebooted or how well it would function if contact were re-established, Tilley concluded that it was likely powered on while passing through the Earth’s shadow. Scientists are working to test the instruments and determine what needs to be done to restore contact. If that happens, the newly found satellite could go down in history as continuing to operate and providing an important discovery for NASA.