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'Whatever Russia is testing, it's sophisticated': 2 Russian satellites get within 10 feet of each other in orbit
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"This wasn't a coincidental pass — COSMOS 2583 performed several fine maneuvers to maintain this tight configuration."
‘Whatever Russia is testing, it’s sophisticated’: Satellites pass within 3 metres of each other
Astronomers have observed two Russian military satellites passing within 3 metres (10 feet) of each other in an unexplained manoeuvre.
The COSMOS 2581 and COSMOS 2583 satellites, launched by Russia’s space agency Roscosmos in February 2025, performed the operation last week while orbiting at an altitude of around 585 kilometres.
The incident, which was tracked by US-based space situational awareness firm COMSPOC, has raised concerns about space-based surveillance and orbital collisions.
“This week we observed a complex proximity event involving Russian satellites,” COMSPOC wrote in a post to X, alongside a simulation of the event.
“This wasn’t a coincidental pass – COSMOS 2583 performed several fine manoeuvres to maintain this tight configuration… Whatever Russia is testing, it’s sophisticated.”
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Two Russian satellites came as close as 10 feet and went back. No one knows why
Two secretive Russian satellites have alarmed space trackers after they manoeuvred to within just 10 feet (3 metres) of each other in orbit, carrying out what analysts describe as highly sophisticated movements whose purpose remains unknown.
The satellites, Kosmos 2581 and Kosmos 2583, performed the close approach on April 28 while orbiting Earth roughly 585 kilometres above the planet, Space.com reported.
According to Pennsylvania-based space situational awareness company COMSPOC, the encounter was not accidental and involved a series of deliberate manoeuvres to maintain the tight formation.
“This wasn't a coincidental pass,” COMSPOC said in a statement posted on X. “COSMOS 2583 performed several fine manoeuvres to maintain this tight configuration.”
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