NASA has re-established contact with a lost spacecraft which likely spun out of control.

The space agency lost its communications link with the Stereo-B craft two years ago, and has been trying to get in touch with it ever since.

It is one of two identical spacecraft which were launched in 2006 to orbit the sun, to image solar phenomena.

NASA wants to find out what causes massive explosions of charged particles from the star, which then travel to Earth and collide with our magnetic field.

But contact was lost of 1 October 2014 during a planned reset to test the craft's automation system.


This was carried out because the craft's line of sight with the Earth was about to be temporarily blocked by the sun.

Image: The launch of the twin spacecraft in 2006

Contact was never regained, and the Stereo team believe that's because the spacecraft started spinning due to an internal error, meaning it was only receiving intermittent solar power.

This would have made it difficult to turn on its transmitter, which allows it to communicate with Earth.

NASA has been trying every month to pick up signals from the spacecraft, without any luck.

Image: NASA's Stereo-B spacecraft lost contact with Earth two years ago

That was until Sunday when contact was established at 6.27pm Eastern Time.

NASA's Deep Space Network of large radio antennas managed to pick up a signal from the vehicle.

The crafts were only due to be used until 2008, but have far outlived their lifespans. It remains to be seen whether Stereo-B is still in working order.

The team on the ground is now trying to figure out what condition the spacecraft is in, and regain full control over its movements.