A Russian military satellite’s recent close encounter with a commercial satellite has sparked serious concerns about security in space. (Pic Credit: Reuters & Agency)
Cosmos 2612 is publicly classified as a satellite designed for servicing and inspecting other spacecraft, according to US space intelligence company slingshot aerospace. In early October, Cosmos 2612 positioned itself several hundred kilometres behind X36, according to space analysts. It is among six military satellites Russia launched in April.
Meanwhile, two other Russian satellites linked to the spacecraft are reportedly moving towards the orbital path of another western satellite, according to the Reuters. US under secretary of State Thomas DiNanno said in a post on X following the incident in mid-October that Russia’s cosmos 2612 military satellite had been “intentionally maneuvering dangerously close to a commercial satellite”. He described the activity as being “consistent with on-orbit weapons operations”. The satellite targeted during the encounter, known as X36, is operated by Finnish company ICEYE, according to the news agency Reuters. Greg Gillinger, a senior space analyst at US-based Integrity ISR, which provides training to American space forces, said the manoeuvre appeared to resemble preparations for an attack. Space analysts have said that four of these spacecraft moved close to ICEYE’s X36 satellite in May.
A Russian military satellite that moved dangerously close to a western commercial spacecraft last month may have been testing capabilities for a potential attack, a military space expert has warned. It supplies radar imagery to western governments and military organisations, including Ukraine. Russia’s defence ministry did not respond to a request for comment. Moscow has repeatedly warned that commercial Western satellites providing assistance to Ukraine could be considered legitimate targets for retaliatory action. Over the following days, it rapidly reduced the distance, approaching within approximately one kilometre (half a mile) of the commercial spacecraft around the middle of the month. Some analysts estimated that the separation was only a few hundred metres or even less.