Star Wars: A Russian Military Satellite Gets Very, Very Close To One Used By Ukraine
A Russian military satellite, Kosmos-2612, has come extremely close to a US-registered spacecraft, ICEYE-X36, used to provide intelligence to Ukraine. The proximity has raised concerns about potential hostile intent. The incident occurred on October 18, roughly 1,000 kilometers above the Earth's surface. The US has publicly accused Russia of a 'deliberately reckless' move.
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- ✓ Russia's Kosmos 2612 satellite came within about three miles of the US-owned ICEYE-X36 satellite.
- ✓ The Russian satellite moved within 85 feet of the Ukraine-linked Iceye's X36 satellite.
- ✓ US officials publicly accused Russia of threatening a Finnish-operated commercial satellite that provides imagery and intelligence to Ukraine and other nations, calling the move 'deliberately reckless'.
What changed
The Russian satellite Kosmos-2612 made 'small adjustments' to maintain a close relative position to the ICEYE-X36 satellite over South America.
Live updates
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Russian Military Satellite Approaches Ukraine-Linked Spacecraft
A Russian military satellite, Kosmos-2612, has come extremely close to a US-registered spacecraft, ICEYE-X36, used to provide intelligence to Ukraine. The proximity has raised concerns about potential hostile intent. The incident occurred on October 18, roughly 1,000 kilometers above the Earth's surface. The US has publicly accused Russia of a 'deliberately reckless' move.
Why it matters
This incident has sparked fears of a Star Wars-style escalation in space. The close approach has been seen as a concerning and aggressive move with potential hostile intent. Russia's actions have been questioned by the US and other nations.
What is confirmed
- Russia's Kosmos 2612 satellite came within about three miles of the US-owned ICEYE-X36 satellite.
- The Russian satellite moved within 85 feet of the Ukraine-linked Iceye's X36 satellite.
- US officials publicly accused Russia of threatening a Finnish-operated commercial satellite that provides imagery and intelligence to Ukraine and other nations, calling the move 'deliberately reckless'.
Still unconfirmed
- The spacecraft were within 1640ft apart.
What to watch next
- Further actions by the Russian satellite Kosmos-2612
- Response from the US and other nations
- Development of international regulations for satellite proximity
confidence 85%Sources used for this update (15)
- Axios — Russia nears U.S. satellite, raising alarm about intent
- CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies — Could Russia Be Poised to Use an On-Orbit Weapon Against a Commercial Satellite?
- Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty — Star Wars: A Russian Military Satellite Gets Very, Very Close To One Used By Ukraine
- SpaceNews — Russia’s close approach to commercial satellite raises alarm
- CNN — Russian satellite makes possibly unprecedented approach of another spacecraft without permission
- Ars Technica — Russian spacecraft maneuvers in "extreme proximity" to satellite used by Ukraine
- The New York Times — Russian Satellite Makes a Menacing Approach to Another Craft in Orbit
- www.timesnownews.com — Russian Satellite Closes In on US Satellite Believed to be ...
- www.newsweek.com — Map shows how Russian military satellite got within meters of ...
- www.sfexaminer.com — The 100 best TV shows of the 21st century
- www.rferl.org — US Accuses Russia Of 'Deliberately Reckless' Move With Military Satellite Flyby
- www.rferl.org — Star Wars: A Russian Military Satellite Gets Very, Very Close ...
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