Alarm grows over Russian satellite’s provocative approach to U.S.-owned satellite
How close is too close for encounters between sensitive spacecraft orbiting Earth? With a mysterious approach to another satellite, Russia’s military may be trying to find out
Russian military satellite Cosmos-2612 repeatedly altered its orbit to approach ICEYE-X36, a U.S.-registered commercial radar-imaging satellite that assists Ukraine. As of October 18, 2026, the two satellites were estimated to be within 1-2 km of each other, a close proximity typically reserved for non-consensual rendezvous and proximity operations (RPOs).
Unlike previous cases, this RPO involves a foreign commercial satellite linked to an ongoing conflict. The Russian satellite's maneuvers suggest it is either testing its capabilities, attempting to disrupt ICEYE-X36, or threatening to physically attack it, potentially creating debris hazards. While the ultimate objective remains unclear, the incident highlights the growing militarization of space and the potential for conflict escalation.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu - Sci-Tech's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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