‘Whatever Russia is testing, it’s sophisticated’: Satellites pass within 3 metres of each other
Yahoo • • science
Key Points:
- Russian military satellites COSMOS 2581 and COSMOS 2583 performed an unusual close-proximity manoeuvre, passing within 3 metres of each other at about 585 kilometres altitude, as observed by US-based COMSPOC.
- The satellites, launched in February 2025, are believed to be part of a program involving "inspector satellites" designed for surveillance or testing other spacecraft, with one releasing a sub-satellite known as Object F.
- The manoeuvre involved precise and autonomous fine adjustments by COSMOS 2583 to maintain tight formation, highlighting sophisticated Russian space capabilities, though the exact purpose remains undisclosed.
- Experts caution that such close approaches between free-flying satellites without docking protocols increase the risk of collisions and space debris, potentially triggering the Kessler syndrome that threatens future space operations.
- Operating at speeds around 8 kilometres per second, these satellites rely on rapid onboard guidance systems to execute manoeuvres, where any miscalculation could generate thousands of dangerous debris fragments in low Earth orbit.
