Well folks, here's what appears to be a new ZOMBIE SAT!

LES-5 [2866, 1967-066E] in a GEO graveyard orbit.

Confirmation will occur at ~0445 UTC this evening when the satellite should pass through eclipse.

If so this is definitely the oldest emitting GEOsat I know of.

LES-5 was a UHF communication satellite experiment launched into geostationary orbit. It operated a transponder in the 228MHz range and had(has) it's primary telemetry beacon on 236.750MHz.

Here's some details on the beacon modulation details. I'm not hearing the transponder beacon on 228.43MHz but that could be due the the fact the satellite has reset and may only emit on 236.75MHz as a result.

To confirm the ID of this signal I'll need to use a solar eclipse of the spacecraft. Luckily this time of year that happens to objects in GEO orbit nightly. Using the eclipse timings we should be able to tell for sure if the emitter is indeed LES-5.

Using Doppler analysis of a GEO satellite's emissions is usually useless to determine the ID of the spacecraft as other effects overwhelm the Doppler effect usually. There fore, timings of an eclipse are the primary means of confirming an unknown GEO satellites location and ID.

One of two things will happen to the GEO sat as it passes through eclipse. The frequency of the emission will dramatically change indicating a good battery OR the emission will cease for the duration of the eclipse. Here's some examples of both.

Is there a live broadcast like showing?

The ID of LES-5 is confirmed the signal suddenly disappeared as the satellite entered umbra eclipse.

We're awaiting the return of LES-5 on the live feed if you love watching paint dry. 0541UTC is the expected return of LES-5's signal. https://www.pscp.tv/w/1mnxeQjQDWaxX 

Here's LES-5 returning to us after eclipse. Doubly confirming the ID as LES 5 [2866, 1967-066E]

@ea4gpz

https://www.pscp.tv/w/1mnxeQjQDWaxX