Meet the Geek Who Tracks Rogue Satellites With Coat Hangers
Meet the Geek Who Tracks Rogue Satellites With Coat Hangers
Science, Spoken · SpokenLayer
October 16, 201710m 10s
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Show Notes
Every 95 minutes, the Chinese satellite Zhuhai-1 02 makes a full pass around the planet, its solar-panel arms extending from its boxy body as it observes Earth. Sometimes, its path takes it over Pueblo, Colorado. There, more than 300 miles below, Mike Coletta’s receiving station can pick up Zhuhai’s transmissions. Because as sophisticated as space technology is, the terrestrial tech necessary to make contact with celestial satellites is surprisingly low.
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