A Cold War-era US spy satellite, the IRCB, lost in the 1990s, has been rediscovered after 25 years. Initially part of a larger satellite, it malfunctioned during deployment and was classified as space junk. Its reappearance surprised scientists, given the difficulty of tracking nearly 20,000 orbiting objects. The rediscovery highlights the challenges of monitoring space debris and the potential risks of collisions with other spacecraft.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.