<h5>Can satellites be lost?</h5><p>We can lose a key ring, pens, and even our way in a new city. But satellites getting lost is not something we hear very often.</p><p>You will be surprised to know that even satellites can be lost due to technical malfunctions, crashing with another object while in orbit, etc. All these can cause a satellite to lose its connection with Earth and become lost in space.</p><h5>Lost satellite found!</h5><p>In 1974, the USA launched a satellite as part of the United States Air Force's (USAF) Space Test Program.</p><p>After launch, the satellite was meant to inflate in space and perform certain functions related to remote sensing instruments. But, the satellite malfunctioned during deployment, making it unusable for its intended purpose.</p><p>Soon after, scientists lost track of it as it vanished into the vastness of space. However, they were able to relocate it in the 1990s, only to lose track of it again.</p><p>Now, after so many years, scientists have spotted the satellite again. We will now have to wait and see if scientists can manage to return the satellite to Earth or restart it.</p><h5>What does this discovery highlight?</h5><p>With the help of various equipment, scientists try to keep track of space debris. But tracking every object in orbit is difficult.</p><p>Further, determining what each item individually is remains a difficult task, as there is a lot of space debris.</p><p>So, this discovery is a victory for those tracking the numerous lost satellites and debris circling the Earth.</p><p>However, as more satellites and spacecraft are being launched, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.newsahoot.com/articles/how-chandrayaan-3-avoided-collision">space debris</a> is increasing. So, in the future, it might be difficult to track all these things, which can become a problem.</p><p>Space debris can crash with spacecraft and can enter Earth's atmosphere, parts of which can reach the ground and cause <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.newsahoot.com/articles/mysterious-space-object-drops-on-house">property damage</a>. So, we need to find a way to clean up the space debris.</p>

The satellite was launched by the US many years ago.

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