Skynet-1A, UK's oldest satellite, moved
This is a UK news story, published by BBC UK, that relates primarily to National Space Operations Centre news.
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oldest satelliteBBC UK
•Skynet-1A: Why did the UK's oldest space satellite end up thousands of miles from where it should have been?
70% Informative
Skynet-1A was launched in 1969 to relay communications for British forces.
It is now in a position 22,369 miles ( 36,000km ) above the Americas .
It's unlikely the half-tonne military spacecraft simply drifted to its current location.
Experts say it was commanded to fire its thrusters in the mid-1970s to move westwards.
Skynet-1A was constantly monitored by the UK 's National Space Operations Centre .
Other satellite operators are informed if there's likely to be a particularly close conjunction.
Ultimately, the UK may have to think about removing the old satellite to a safer location.
The UK Space Agency is funding efforts to do this at lower altitudes.
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