ISEE-3 Reboot Project - Reviving a Decommissioned Satellite

The International Sun Earth Explorer-3 (ISEE-3) is launched on August 12, 1978, a joint effort between NASA and the European Space Agency. (NASA)

ISEE-3 as it is readied for its mission. (Ed Grebenstein)

ISEE-3 in the test chamber at Cape Canaveral, Florida where the craft was launched in 1978. (Ed Grebenstein)

Control room at a shuttered McDonald's at NASA Ames in Mountain View, California dubbed “McMoons.” (ISEE-3 Reboot Project)

Equipment used to communicate with ISEE-3 is mounted on the world’s largest radio telescope located at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. (ISEE-3 Reboot Project)

Reboot team members at Arecibo Observatory monitor equipment on the radio telescope. ( ISEE-3 Reboot Project)

Reboot team at NASA Ames “McMoons” control room gives a “thumbs up” once gaining control of the decommissioned satellite. (ISEE-3 Reboot Project)

Computer screen shot showing ISEE-Flyby path close to the moon on August 10, 2014 as directed by NASA decades ago. (Mike Loucks)

Attendees at ISEE-3 flyby at McMoons wave goodbye to ISEE-3 up in the sky. (Reboot Project)

Artist conception of ISEE-3 in space. (ISEE-3 Reboot Project)

Reboot Project mission logo. (ISEE-3 Reboot Project)