The UK’s Skynet-1A satellite, launched in 1969 and inactive, has mysteriously shifted orbit with no known explanation.

Question

A military spacecraft called Skynet-1A launched 55 years ago was moved from its orbit – and nobody is quite sure who did it, or why.  https://www.iflscience.com/skynet-1a-military-spacecraft-launched-55-years-ago-has-been-moved-by-persons-unknown-76727

Answer 1

The claim that the satellite was moved from its orbit is ambiguous, as there is another claim that the object could potentially be a different satellite overall. According to The Global Network On Sustainability In Space (gnosisnetwork.org), there was two critical periods where the object was either not tracked at all or the tracking data was lost. Due to this, there is not a strong claim that it was moved, rather a speculation on if the spacecraft did get moved. 

https://gnosisnetwork.org/blog/the-curious-case-of-skynet-1a-and-why-it-matters/

Comments

Wow, great research skills! This is very intresting information to know and I feel like a fact check was needed for this. I wonder how the data was lost and why the object wasnt tracked at all.

Answer 2

This seems true! As well as the article you linked, there is also an article from the BBC. The article quotes Dr. Stuart Eves, a specialist in space traffic control. The BBC article agrees with prior one, but also has an idea as to why, although it is very loose.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpwrr58801yo