A zombie satellite has come to life, performing mysterious maneuvers. The aging craft has flown halfway around the globe and is now hovering directly over the USA.
The old satellite Skynet-1A, launched back in 1969, has unexpectedly altered its orbit and is now positioned directly over the USA instead of the Indian Ocean. Experts assert that there are no natural explanations for such a maneuver. Who is controlling this piece of metal, with which contact has long been lost, and for what purpose? Wild conspiracy theories are circulating online, ranging from alien interventions to covert experiments by a world government involving artificial intelligence. After all, the satellite's name coincides with the system that enslaved humanity in "The Terminator."
THE COMPANY IS NO MORE
The device was launched in 1969 and was arguably one of the first British military satellites. It facilitated communication between London and British troops deployed worldwide. For instance, with the forces in Singapore: although the main troops left the city-state in 1971, the last soldier boarded a flight to London only in 1976.
At that time, the British had little knowledge of space technology, and the satellite was built by Americans. Specifically, this device was constructed by the now-defunct company Philco Ford, and the Delta rocket delivered the satellite to geostationary orbit. Thus, it remained suspended at an altitude of 36,000 kilometers above Africa, and the characteristic of a geostationary orbit is that it literally hovers over a single point, neither moving away nor closer. What could possibly go wrong?
WHILE MOVING, THEY LOST IT
Surprisingly few documents have survived in the archives – or they are classified. Veterans of the air force recall that the Americans configured all the instruments and handed over control to the British at the RAF base in Oakhanger. However, it was not entirely straightforward: veterans who were monitoring the satellite retained the impression that its control was somewhat dual. Americans frequently interfered with its operation, but no one remembers what they wanted or what they specifically did. The archives also contain no information.
After a few years, the primitive flight control center in Oakhanger had to be temporarily closed for technical upgrades. It was established that during this time, the entire team monitoring the satellite relocated to the USA, to a base in Sunnyvale.
When Britain restored its observation point in 1977, it turned out that they could not locate the satellite. It had simply vanished.
They did not attempt to search for it then. The satellite had long since exhausted its resources, and it was lost.
WHAT IS IT DOING HERE?
Over the years, natural drift should have carried the satellite eastward. All calculations indicate: it was over Africa – now look for it over the Indian Ocean.
Recently, the satellite was found. But not over the Indian Ocean, rather above the USA. Thus, it has traveled in the opposite direction, with a deviation of half a globe's circumference.
The satellite could not have ended up there on its own. This means someone activated its engines while they were still functional and moved it. But who and why?
Satellite Skynet-1A.
So far, the most plausible explanation is the story of the temporary relocation of the control team to the USA. Perhaps it was inconvenient to operate the satellite from the States while the base in Britain was under repair, and someone suggested moving it closer to them. However, the details do not add up. When the British returned home, they began searching for the satellite in its old location. But they found nothing. This means they had no knowledge of its whereabouts. There are no records of such a decision in the preserved documents.
GAMES OF SECRET SERVICES
In fact, this could be where we conclude. Because we have laid out all the facts, and there will be no more; beyond this point, it’s just speculation. Western experts state: there is no single natural reason for such behavior from a celestial object. We reached out to our experts – they share the same opinion.
The theory that they themselves moved it over to the USA for easier observation, and then forgot about it, is rather weak. The notion of "forgot" seems implausible, and besides, why move it? The object is perfectly visible from its original location in America.
Thus, we delve into elaborate conspiracy theories. For example, the following.
In the mid-1970s, American intelligence agencies decided to utilize the old, yet still functional piece of equipment for some nefarious purposes. The British allies were not even informed. They took advantage of the repairs at the tracking station in Britain, and quietly moved the object from its position. What could be the objective? Since it became necessary to position the satellite over America, the aim was likely somewhere nearby. Perhaps Cuba. Or maybe it was a war between their own intelligence agencies. This would explain the need for all this cover-up.
Another more convoluted theory suggests that they intended to conduct dubious tests on the satellite. For instance, surveillance systems tracking everything and everyone. Since officials in the White House had often been under surveillance, they presumably aimed to cover their tracks. It seems there was a plan to create a serious system, a Big Brother. Whether it succeeded or not is a question (after all, as we see today, it did).
Somehow, this information leaked to filmmakers. We know that many Hollywood creators have close ties with CIA operatives and military analysts, often incorporating ideas suggested by their civilian friends into their films. When creating the prophetic film "The Terminator," they decided to play with the idea of an AI monitoring everyone. It is likely that such an AI (albeit primitive at the time) was tested on the satellite. They decided not to change the name. After all, no one would understand anything anyway.
Finally, who can forbid the thought that aliens decided to study our technologies, took a sample, opened it, closed it, and returned it, but not quite to the original location? Who is really to say? Of course, no one can stop us from thinking that way.
And if in the 1970s, geostationary orbit resembled the highways from the movie "Beware of the Car," where you could drive in any direction without encountering anyone, today it feels cramped up there, and the old piece of metal is in the way. Will they remove it from orbit? It depends on what secrets it holds inside. If there are none, perhaps they will.