SuitSat-1: A Discarded Spacesuit in Low Earth Orbit
Backdropped by the blackness of space and Earth's horizon, a spacesuit-turned-satellite called SuitSat-1 began its orbit around the Earth after it was discarded by the Expedition 12 crewmembers from the International Space Station on Feb 3, 2006.
SuitSat, an unneeded Russian Orlan spacesuit, was filled with old clothes, a weak radio transmitter, three batteries, and internal sensors. It was released by the crew to orbit the Earth. The radio transmitter faintly transmitted recorded voices of school children to amateur radio operators worldwide.
The suit circled the Earth twice before its radio signal became unexpectedly weak. SuitSat-1 continued to orbit every 90 minutes until it burned up in the Earth's atmosphere after a few weeks.
This picture shows the lifeless spacesuit photographed in 2006 just as it drifted away from the International Space Station.
Credit: ISS Expedition 12 Crew, NASA.
