Russia seems to have lost control of a military satellite
A secret Russian satellite in space, which US authorities believe it is associated with a nuclear anti -spontaneous weapons program, rotates uncontrollably, suggesting that it may no longer function, US analysts said, quoted by Reuters.
The Cosmos 2553 satellite, launched from Russia weeks before the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, has looked in the last year as if it were in a state of uncontrollable rotation, according to radar data from Lelabs and optical data from Slingshot Aerosce provided to Reuters.
The satellite is believed to be Russian intelligence and also serves as a radiation test platform. Last year, the satellite was at the center of US statement that Russia has been developing nuclear weapons capable of destroying entire satellite networks for years, such as the huge Starlink internet system of Space Ex an Ukrainian army used.
The Space Achievements of 2024 (Video)
According to US representatives, the goal of Cosmos 2553, although it is not a weapon, is to support Russia in developing a nuclear anti -abundant weapon. Moscow denies developing such a weapon and claims that Cosmos 2553 is for research purposes.
The satellite is in a relatively isolated orbit about 2000 km above the ground and is located in a hot spot of space radiation that communication satellites or Earth monitoring satellites usually avoid, Reuters notes.
In November, Lelabs, according to her, reported incorrect satellite movements, using Doppler measurements from a global grid of ground stations. In December, the company raised its assessment to « high degree of confidence » that the satellite was rotating uncontrollably.
The Russian Defense Ministry has not currently responded to a request for Reuters comment.
« This observation greatly suggests that the satellite is no longer functioning, » said the Center for Strategic and International Studies based in Washington for the analysis of Lelabs.
Photo Gales: Star Remains and Impressive Galaxies – How Telescopes saw 2024
The satellite has previously shown signs of strange movements. « Singshot », whose global telescopy network monitors the spacecraft since its launch on February 5, 2022, reported movements in May 2024.
« Singshot » noted that the brightness of the site has become a variable, which suggests a potentially uncontrolled rotation, « said a spokesman for the company.
According to recent observations of Slingshot, however, Space 2553 seems to have stabilized, said Belinda Marchand, Chief Scientific Officer of the company.
