Russian satellite to pass within 26 metres of a European satellite used by Polish and Ukrainian forces
A Russian satellite, Kosmos 2612, is set to come within 26 metres of a Finnish-built ICEYE satellite used by Polish and Ukrainian militaries, according to Orbital Radar. The approach, expected on the evening of 19 October, would be unprecedented in orbital operations and has drawn attention in both…
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Close approach expected Sunday evening
Orbital Radar, a service that tracks traffic in low Earth orbit in near real time, reports that Kosmos 2612 is scheduled to pass about 26 metres from ICEYE-X36 at 18:07 Polish time (Rosyjski satelita zbliży się na 26 m do europejskiego obiektu. Zostały godziny – Onet). The same service had earlier put the distance at 25 metres, so the projected gap is marginally wider in the latest figures.
Unclear purpose of the Russian craft
The Russian satellite remains difficult to charakterise. Public information does not establish whether it carries any payload, and its intentions have not been disclosed. Experts quoted by the Polish Press Agency, PAP, say that at such short range the craft could be used for reconnaissance, though they note that a definitive assessment is not possible from the available data.
Use of the ICEYE satellite
ICEYE-X36 is a Finnish-made radar imaging satellite. According to reporting by Onet, the Polish and Ukrainian armed forces use satellites of this type for observation, which is why the approach has drawn attention in both countries.
Context of the orbital encounter
The two spacecraft have been converging for months, Orbital Radar notes, which means the final approach is the culmination of a long, gradual drift rather than a sudden manoeuvre. Such proximity between military-linked satellites from opposing sides has no clear precedent in published records of orbital operations. Analysts are expected to watch for any change in course after the pass, as that would indicate whether the encounter was deliberate.
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