Oldest Satellite Has Been in Space for 67 Years. Engineers Want to Bring It Home

by bradac56on 4/19/2025, 8:55 PMwith 5 comments

by nick238on 4/19/2025, 11:31 PM

"The spacecraft is a 1.46 kg (3.2 lb) aluminum sphere six inches (150 mm) in diameter, with antennas spanning three feet (0.91 m)"

A mission like the private EVA SpaceX missions could probably just go up and grab it. Maybe need to detach/break/bend 4 of the antennas to fit it through the hatch.

by LorenDBon 4/19/2025, 11:15 PM

Starship would seem the natural choice to bring Vanguard home, but I wonder what else could be used. Stoke Space's Nova vehicle comes to mind as a good option.

by aaron695on 4/19/2025, 11:41 PM

Why not go and steal the pyramids if you are all about destroying human achievements.

It has 200 years to go. In 190 years maybe give it a boost.

By all means go to view it, do some real space tourism with a scientific edge.