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5 clusters · 81 sources · 13 days · First seen · Last updated

Russian military satellite maneuvers near ICEYE spacecraft

Overview

Russian military satellites have engaged in orbital maneuvers that appear to target commercial intelligence assets. In May, four Russian Cosmos satellites (2610 through 2613) adjusted their trajectories to align with the orbital plane of the ICEYE-X36, a radar-imaging satellite operated by the Finnish-American company ICEYE. Subsequent reports indicated that the Russian satellite Cosmos 2612 performed a series of deliberate maneuvers, moving from over 200 miles away to within approximately three miles of the ICEYE-X36 in a single day. Tracking data from LeoLabs confirmed that the Russian spacecraft closed the distance to approximately 1.5 kilometers (roughly 0.9 miles) during these operations. Recent tracking data from LeoLabs and Integrity ISR indicates that Cosmos 2612 has successfully matched the altitude, inclination, and orbital plane of the ICEYE-X36. The proximity between the two objects has reached extreme levels, with some analysts describing the encounter as “bumper-to-bumper” after estimates placed the distance as low as 26 meters. Experts, including Clayton Swope of CSIS, have noted this proximity is essentially “bumper-to-bumper.” In mid-October, tracking data from LeoLabs reported that Cosmos 2612 rapidly closed the distance from 350 kilometers to less than 5 kilometers within a single day. During these Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO), the Russian satellite moved ahead of and behind the commercial craft, at times coming within 500 meters. While some estimates placed the closest approach at 500 meters, other tracking data indicated the satellites may have come within as little as 26 meters on October 18. As of October 19, Cosmos 2612 has begun to move away from the ICEYE-X36 satellite. Following these maneuvers, United States officials have characterized the activity as threatening. Thomas DiNanno, US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, stated at the UN that the maneuvers were “consistent with on-orbit weapons operations.”

Entities

ICEYE-X36 · Iceye · Cosmos 2612 · Russia · LeoLabs

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Coverage disagrees

Sources make claims that cannot both be true. CLSTR reports the disagreement; it does not decide who is right.

Timeline

  1. [INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
    Russian Cosmos 2612 satellite approaches commercial radar satellite

    Russia's Cosmos 2612 satellite performed maneuvers bringing it within 500 meters of the ICEYE-X36 commercial radar satellite, prompting US warnings of potential on-orbit weapons operations.

  2. [TECHNOLOGY] 36 sources
    Russian satellite Cosmos 2612 performs close-proximity maneuvers near ICEYE-X36

    A Russian military satellite, Cosmos 2612, performed unprecedented unapproved proximity maneuvers near the US-registered ICEYE-X36 radar satellite, which provides intelligence to Ukraine.

  3. [INTERNATIONAL] 15 sources
    Russia expands military capabilities in Kaliningrad and orbital space

    Russia is expanding its military footprint in Kaliningrad with massive new radar systems and is conducting aggressive orbital maneuvers against commercial satellites supporting Ukraine.

  4. [INTERNATIONAL] 25 sources
    Cosmos 2612 satellite performs close approach to ICEYE-X36

    The Russian military satellite Cosmos 2612 has performed deliberate maneuvers to approach the US-registered ICEYE-X36 radar satellite, which provides critical intelligence to Ukraine, reaching within 26 meters.

  5. [INTERNATIONAL] 5 sources
    Russian military satellites maneuver near ICEYE radar satellite

    Russian military satellites performed maneuvers near an ICEYE radar satellite in May, prompting warnings from Germany’s Space Command about potential threats to large networks like Starlink.

Sources

actualno.com · aerospacecue.it · aerotime.aero · aljazeera.com · antiguatribune.com · arabnews.pk · bigodino.it · biziday.ro · biznes.interia.pl · brasilemfolhas.com.br · canaltro.com · clubic.com · criptotendencia.com · cybernoz.com · dailymail.co.uk · dhnet.be · diebewertung.de · digitaldaily.de · dziennik-polityczny.com · english.mathrubhumi.com · entrevue.fr · epochtimes.com · etv.me · europesays.com · fight.org · finance.technews.tw · focus.de · futurezone.at · g4media.ro · generation-nt.com · gizmodo.com · goniec.net · gospodarka.gazeta.pl · greenmountain.no · horizont.net · iltalehti.fi · infobae.com · it-bg.org · krdo.com · ksml.fi · kurierverlag.de · kurir.rs · liner.hu · localnews8.com · mannheim24.de · merkur.de · moldova1.md · mormonhistoricsites.org

This summary has been updated 10 times: see revision history