Back in February 2018, SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket launched a unique payload into space: a mannequin named Starman sitting in a Tesla Roadster. After leaving Earth, Starman began orbiting the sun. The chances of it coming back to Earth are slim, with the next close approach predicted for 2047, and even then, it will be about 2 million miles away. After that, it will continue its journey around the sun for many more years.
Throughout history, we’ve sent hundreds of objects into space. Some, like the Voyager probes, have even left our solar system. Once these objects are launched, they usually don’t come back unless specifically designed to do so. They spend their existence traveling through space.
On the other hand, natural objects like asteroids enter Earth’s atmosphere daily. Most are fragments from ancient asteroids, and some are large enough to survive the fiery journey through our atmosphere and reach the ground.
In September, astronomers using a NASA telescope in Maui were observing asteroids when they found something unusual. This object moved past the Moon at a speed of 3,000 km/h, much slower than typical asteroids, which can travel tens of thousands of km/h. Unlike most asteroids, which have tilted, oval orbits, this object had a circular orbit similar to Earth’s.
The object’s slow speed and Earth-like orbit led astronomers to suspect it was not a natural asteroid but something artificial from Earth. They named it 2020SO and traced its path back to 1966, discovering it matched the trajectory of a mission from that year: the Surveyor 2 mission.
The Surveyor 2 mission launched from Cape Canaveral on an Atlas-Centaur rocket. Its goal was to study the Moon’s surface and send back images to help plan the Apollo missions. Unfortunately, a thruster failure caused the spacecraft to crash into the Moon. The Centaur upper stage, however, continued past the Moon and entered an orbit around the sun, where it remained for decades.
Astronomers confirmed that 2020SO was not an asteroid but a human-made object. It was set to enter Earth’s orbit in November, providing a chance to study it closely and confirm its identity as the Centaur rocket.
To prove it was the Centaur rocket, scientists needed to determine if it was made of 301 stainless steel. They used NASA’s infrared telescope in Hawaii to conduct spectroscopy observations. This technique, often used to study exoplanet atmospheres, can also identify the material composition of solid objects.
By comparing the spectral data of 2020SO with stainless steel on Earth, scientists found similarities but not an exact match. They realized the differences could be due to the effects of space on the material over 54 years.
To get a more accurate comparison, they observed a Centaur rocket stage launched in 1971. Despite the challenge of tracking fast-moving objects in Earth’s orbit, they successfully gathered data. The spectral graph of this old rocket stage matched perfectly with 2020SO, confirming it was indeed the lost Centaur booster from 1966.
As we continue to send more objects into space, identifying those heading toward Earth will become increasingly important. With advancing technology, observing such objects will become routine. For 2020SO, it will leave Earth’s orbit in March and continue its journey around the sun, eventually returning to Earth in the distant future. Like Starman, these objects are on incredible journeys, and who knows how far our technology will have advanced by the time they return.
Research and create a timeline of significant space missions, including the Surveyor 2 mission and the launch of SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy with Starman. Highlight key events and their impact on space exploration. Use online tools or poster boards to present your timeline creatively.
Develop a game where you and your classmates identify various space objects based on their characteristics, such as speed, orbit, and material composition. Use the information from the article to create clues and challenge your peers to guess whether an object is natural or artificial.
Perform a simple spectroscopy experiment using a CD or DVD as a diffraction grating to observe the spectrum of different light sources. Discuss how this technique is used in astronomy to identify the composition of space objects, similar to how scientists confirmed the identity of the Centaur rocket.
Write a creative short story from the perspective of the Centaur rocket, 2020SO, detailing its journey from the 1966 launch to its rediscovery in 2020. Include its experiences in space and its thoughts on being identified by astronomers.
Engage in a class debate on the importance of managing space debris. Discuss the challenges and potential solutions for tracking and removing artificial objects from Earth’s orbit. Use the case of 2020SO as a starting point for your arguments.
On February 6, 2018, the Falcon Heavy launched Starman and his Tesla Roadster into space. After leaving Earth, Starman entered an orbit around the sun. The chances of Starman returning to Earth are extremely low, as its orbit is not expected to intersect with Earth until 2047. Even then, it will only pass by briefly at a distance of 2 million miles. After this close encounter, it will continue its orbit around the sun, not returning to Earth for several more decades.
Throughout the history of spaceflight, we have launched hundreds of objects beyond Earth’s orbit. Some objects, like the Voyager space probes, have even traveled fast enough to leave the solar system. Once something is sent into space, it is usually the last goodbye. Unless specifically designed to return, these objects are destined to spend the rest of their lives in space.
Natural objects, however, enter Earth’s atmosphere every day. Most of these are large fragments of asteroids that broke apart long ago in our solar system. Some are large enough to survive the intense journey through Earth’s atmosphere and reach the surface.
In September of this year, astronomers were observing asteroids using the NASA survey telescope on the island of Maui. This specific group of astronomers focused on asteroids heading toward Earth and discovered an object with unusual characteristics. This object flew past our Moon at 3,000 km/h, much slower than the typical speed of an asteroid, which can sometimes reach tens of thousands of km/h. Most asteroids have a more oval-shaped orbit, tilted compared to Earth. Initial calculations showed that this object had a very circular orbit around the sun, similar to that of Earth. Further inspection revealed that its orbital plane perfectly matched that of Earth.
This low velocity and Earth-like orbit led the astronomers to believe that this was not an asteroid, but rather an artificial object that originated from Earth. They continued to observe this object and named it 2020SO. After further analysis and tracing back its orbit, they found that object 2020 made a close approach to Earth in 1966. Looking through the launch archives from that time, they found a mission that aligned almost perfectly: the Surveyor 2 mission.
Lifting off from Cape Canaveral on an Atlas-Centaur rocket, Surveyor 2 was designed to conduct experiments on the lunar surface and send back detailed images to help NASA plan for the upcoming Apollo missions. After launch, the Centaur upper stage placed the spacecraft on a path toward the Moon. However, one of its thrusters failed, causing the spacecraft to lose control and crash into the Moon at nearly 10,000 km/h. The Centaur upper stage continued on, flying past the Moon and entering an unknown orbit around the sun. For decades, this rocket booster orbited the sun, but its orbit was gradually altered by the continuous pressure from the sun.
Astronomers confirmed that this could not be an asteroid and must be something made by humans. Object 2020 was on a trajectory to enter Earth’s orbit in November, and astronomers calculated that it would make several close approaches before returning to an orbit around the sun in March. This presented a great opportunity to observe the object in more detail and determine if it was indeed the Centaur rocket.
However, this object was incredibly faint and required some of the world’s most powerful telescopes to observe it. At its closest approach, it would reach an apparent magnitude of just 14. Objects become visible to the human eye once they reach a magnitude of 6 or below. Most planets in our solar system have a magnitude below 1, making them difficult to spot with the naked eye.
To prove that this was the Centaur rocket, scientists needed to determine if it was made from the same material, 301 stainless steel. They took over NASA’s infrared telescope in Hawaii and began conducting spectroscopy observations. This telescope has a 3-meter-wide mirror and is located at an altitude of 4,000 meters on top of a mountain. It can measure a wide range of wavelengths in the infrared spectrum, allowing for spectroscopy observations.
This technique is often used to study the atmosphere of distant exoplanets to determine their composition. As a planet passes in front of its star, the molecules in its atmosphere absorb light at specific wavelengths. By observing these dips, scientists can compare the data to what we have on Earth and determine which atoms and molecules are present. The same technique can be applied to solid objects to determine their material composition.
The atoms and molecules that make up stainless steel emit and absorb light at very specific wavelengths. Scientists took spectral measurements of object 2020 and compared them to measurements of stainless steel on Earth. The data showed some similarities, but the match was not perfect. They realized that the differences could stem from observing ordinary stainless steel against stainless steel that had been exposed to the harsh conditions of outer space for 54 years.
To get a more accurate match, they needed to compare it to a piece of stainless steel that had also experienced the harshness of space. Fortunately, there have been 245 Centaur launches since 1962, and many of the old stages remain in Earth’s orbit. However, observing one of these old rocket stages for long enough would be a significant challenge, as objects in Earth’s orbit can move across the sky at incredible speeds.
The scientists chose to observe a Centaur rocket stage that launched in 1971, which took a communication satellite into orbit. Despite the challenge, they managed to lock onto the 49-year-old rocket and gather all the necessary data on the same day that object 2020 made its closest approach to Earth. The data returned, and the spectrum graph of this old rocket stage perfectly matched that of object 2020. This confirmed that object 2020 was made of 301 stainless steel and was undoubtedly the lost Centaur booster from 1966.
As we continue to launch more objects into space, our ability to detect which objects are heading toward Earth will become increasingly important. As our presence in space grows and our technology advances, observing objects like this will become more routine. For object 2020, it will leave Earth’s orbit in March and continue orbiting the sun until it eventually returns to Earth in the distant future. Like Starman, these objects are on a journey that humans could never imagine. However, due to the laws of physics, they will eventually come home at some point. When 2020 returns to Earth, who knows how far our technology will have advanced.
Rocket – A vehicle designed to propel itself by ejecting exhaust gas from one end, used for space travel or launching satellites. – The rocket launched from the space center, carrying a satellite into orbit around the Earth.
Asteroid – A small rocky body orbiting the sun, typically found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. – Astronomers discovered a new asteroid that could potentially pass close to Earth in the next decade.
Orbit – The curved path of a celestial object or spacecraft around a star, planet, or moon, especially a periodic elliptical revolution. – The satellite was placed in a geostationary orbit to provide consistent communication coverage.
Astronomers – Scientists who study celestial bodies such as stars, planets, comets, and galaxies. – Using powerful telescopes, astronomers have been able to identify thousands of exoplanets in distant solar systems.
Spacecraft – A vehicle or device designed for travel or operation in outer space. – The spacecraft successfully landed on Mars, sending back valuable data about the planet’s surface.
Mission – A specific task or operation assigned to a spacecraft or crew, often involving exploration or scientific research. – The mission to explore the outer planets provided new insights into the composition of their atmospheres.
Telescope – An optical instrument designed to make distant objects appear nearer, containing an arrangement of lenses or mirrors. – The Hubble Space Telescope has captured stunning images of distant galaxies, expanding our understanding of the universe.
Stainless – Resistant to corrosion or staining, often used in the context of materials used in scientific instruments. – The stainless steel components of the satellite ensure its durability in the harsh environment of space.
Spectroscopy – The study of the interaction between matter and electromagnetic radiation, often used to determine the composition of stars and planets. – Through spectroscopy, scientists can analyze the light from stars to determine their chemical composition and temperature.
Technology – The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry and the development of new devices or systems. – Advances in technology have allowed for the development of more powerful telescopes, enabling deeper exploration of the cosmos.
