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Cosmos 2612–ICEYE-X36

A Russian military satellite executed a series of highly coordinated maneuvers to shadow a U.S.-Finnish commercial radar spacecraft. The non-consensual proximity operation has prompted Washington to accuse Moscow of testing space-based weapons capabilities.

Factlen Newsroom· Updated

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Illustration: A Russian military satellite executed a series of fuel-intensive maneuvers to shadow a U.S.-Finnish commercial radar spacecraft in low Earth orbit.From: US Officials Sound Alarm Over Russian Satellite Maneuvers Indicating Orbital Weapon Capabilities

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Cosmos 2612 closed a gap of hundreds of miles to hover within 500 feet of the commercial craft.From: US Officials Sound Alarm Over Russian Satellite Maneuvers Indicating Orbital Weapon Capabilities ·
Tracking data shows the distance between the two spacecraft collapsing over a 72-hour period.From: Russian Military Satellite Cosmos 2612 Intercepts U.S. Commercial Radar Craft in Orbit ·
Changing a satellite's orbital inclination requires massive amounts of onboard propellant.From: Russian Military Satellite Cosmos 2612 Intercepts U.S. Commercial Radar Craft in Orbit ·
Illustration: Space-tracking firms monitored the Russian spacecraft as it actively repositioned itself ahead of and behind ICEYE-X36.From: US Officials Sound Alarm Over Russian Satellite Maneuvers Indicating Orbital Weapon Capabilities ·
Illustration: The non-consensual rendezvous forces Western governments to evaluate how they will protect private space companies.From: US Officials Sound Alarm Over Russian Satellite Maneuvers Indicating Orbital Weapon Capabilities ·
Illustration: Space domain awareness firms are monitoring the high-speed orbital rendezvous.From: Russian Military Satellite Cosmos 2612 Intercepts U.S. Commercial Radar Craft in Orbit ·

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