It turned out that the signal came from a satellite that had been decommissioned in the late 1960s after its instruments broke down. What triggered the electrostatic discharge that caused the signal is still uncertain, but investigating further could help us figure out how to prevent damage to live spacecraft. This is the case with NASA’s Relay 2 satellite, which took off in 1964 until its transponders glitched. Electrostatic discharge (ESD) or plasma discharge caused by a collision with a rogue micrometeoroid. “When sufficient voltage is achieved, electrostatic discharge (ESD) occurs, typically be- tween nearby surfaces/materials on the spacecraft.