On March 25, 2000, NASA launched a satellite called Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE). Five years later, the space agency unexpectedly lost contact with the satellite and declared the mission over. But on January 20, 2018, Scott Tilley, an amateur astronomer, recorded observations of a satellite that he deduced was consistent with the lost IMAGE satellite.
Tilley was searching for signs of the secretive Zuma mission when he came across an unidentified high earth orbit satellite. Using ‘strf’ (sat tools rf), he discovered the signal came from 2000-017A, 26113, which is the identifier for the IMAGE satellite.
NASA has since confirmed the satellite Tilley found is indeed IMAGE. The satellite is only 18 years old, however, and the onboard technology is significantly outdated, which has made it difficult for NASA to establish contact with IMAGE again. The agency is currently attempting to reverse engineer a solution to access the science payload and various science instruments on the rediscovered sat. Results of these efforts will determine how they proceed.
If you have a telescope, keep an eye on the skies, and maybe you will make the next discovery.
Timothy is a lifelong DIY enthusiast who is fixated on smart home tech, beautiful tools, and wrenching on his FJ62 Land Cruiser. He’s the DIY editor at Popular Mechanics and also the founder of the home improvement site, Charles & Hudson, the Webby-nominated family site, Built by Kids, and Tool Crave. When not working, you’ll find him on his board or bike enjoying the LA weather with his family and friends. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter.
