Two Russian satellites are maneuvering toward an American military satellite
Two Russian “inspector” satellites, launched together in 2022 but now separated, appear to be maneuvering toward an American military satellite and are about to position themselves to within 30 and 50 miles respectively every four days.
[O]n June 26, 2025, a new object was apparently ejected from the main satellite at a separation speed of just around 10 kilometers per hour, according to an estimate by Jonathan McDowell.
By the end of June 2025, Object C (Full ID — 2022-089C), as the newly released satellite was identified in the US Space Force catalogue, was around 140 kilometers from its Kosmos-2558 “mother vehicle,” according to observations by Marco Langbroek. It was tracked in a 545 by 451-kilometer orbit, with an inclination 97.24 degrees toward the Equator. On July 3, 2025, at around 18:42 UTC, Object C made a sudden orbit-lowering maneuver descending to an altitude of around 435 kilometers, while Kosmos-2558 remained in its original orbit.
According to Nico Janssen, the newly formed orbit would put Object C within 81 kilometers from USA-326, on July 5, 2025, at around 00:54:20 UTC. In the meantime, Kosmos-2558 would pass at a minimum distance of nearly 49 kilometers from USA-326 on the same day, at around 09:40:50, Janssen predicted on the Seesat-L Internet message board on July 4, 2025.
Russia’s anti-satellite technology is based on tests several decades ago whereby it brought a killer satellite close to a target satellite and destroyed both by blowing up the killer satellite. These maneuvers now are not likely aimed at such a test, destroying the American classified military satellite. Instead, Russia likely wants to obtain close-up photography and data collection about it. The maneuvers however do prove once again that Russia’s anti-satellite technology is viable.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon. from any other book seller, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
Two Russian “inspector” satellites, launched together in 2022 but now separated, appear to be maneuvering toward an American military satellite and are about to position themselves to within 30 and 50 miles respectively every four days.
[O]n June 26, 2025, a new object was apparently ejected from the main satellite at a separation speed of just around 10 kilometers per hour, according to an estimate by Jonathan McDowell.
By the end of June 2025, Object C (Full ID — 2022-089C), as the newly released satellite was identified in the US Space Force catalogue, was around 140 kilometers from its Kosmos-2558 “mother vehicle,” according to observations by Marco Langbroek. It was tracked in a 545 by 451-kilometer orbit, with an inclination 97.24 degrees toward the Equator. On July 3, 2025, at around 18:42 UTC, Object C made a sudden orbit-lowering maneuver descending to an altitude of around 435 kilometers, while Kosmos-2558 remained in its original orbit.
According to Nico Janssen, the newly formed orbit would put Object C within 81 kilometers from USA-326, on July 5, 2025, at around 00:54:20 UTC. In the meantime, Kosmos-2558 would pass at a minimum distance of nearly 49 kilometers from USA-326 on the same day, at around 09:40:50, Janssen predicted on the Seesat-L Internet message board on July 4, 2025.
Russia’s anti-satellite technology is based on tests several decades ago whereby it brought a killer satellite close to a target satellite and destroyed both by blowing up the killer satellite. These maneuvers now are not likely aimed at such a test, destroying the American classified military satellite. Instead, Russia likely wants to obtain close-up photography and data collection about it. The maneuvers however do prove once again that Russia’s anti-satellite technology is viable.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon. from any other book seller, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
When you see your enemy making a mistake let them.
Russia has nothing to gain from this. But we get to watch what they can do. if they damage to try to hack the sat we just quietly shut them down from the Ukraine.
The Ukrainians get the credit for hitting their satellite control center with a big drone.
I wish there was some way to sneak Russia’s nukes out—we could put them in new power plants…and they’d have to come to the table.
Those things need a huge amount of maintenance or they will just stop working. Its not like in the movies and the missiles and war heads can last a few hundred years.
Putin has tried several times to launch an ICBM as a demo and they have mostly failed.
When was the last time Russia has actually detonated a war head to prove they work? I am not saying they still have thousands ready to go. But I bet its down into the few hundred and they do not know which ones actually work.
I am not even sure if they ever had that many rockets and war heads. I think they upped the numbers to fake out the rest of the world. Their one plan was to overwhelm any American deference with a bunch of fake ICBM’s.
Putin knows that if he uses a nuke he will get the same back. The problem is that he is willing to do this. Its just people he no longer needs to feed or pay. Just like dead solders.
If the Russian people want to be safe they need to rise up and throw him out by force. America could take him out with a targeted attack but the people would not have the feeling of accomplishment then. They would just accept another dictator.
@ pzatchok
You are right on one point, but for the wrong reasons… The IBMs use a chemical ( I can’t remember exactly what it is..) that has huge value on the black market… There is a theory that most of the missiles will have had this chemical sold, and thus just won’t launch. However if just a few make it to Europe and the US it will still be catastrophic… Best to not go there.
Russia has not exploded a nuclear weapon recently because they are part of the test ban treaty, which they instigated. ( Left as I am, I am no supporter of Russia, but facts are facts).. it’s the same reason that neither has the US or The UK and France. The only country that has tested nukes in my lifetime is North Korea.
Putin is many things, but stupid is not one of them. He will never use nuclear weapons, even tactical ones.. He knows the the response he will incur. I honestly have no idea how the Ukraine situation will pan out…. I have my own opinions how the war could be ended, which probably, ( surprisingly aligning with Trump) is the only realistic end to the conflict, but any solution does not involve nukes.
The man is not getting any younger. The best way to get rid of him is patience!