File image.
A Russian military satellite maneuvered to within about 500 meters of a United States-registered commercial radar-imaging satellite over several days before moving away, according to space-tracking company LeoLabs, in an unusually close orbital encounter that has sparked panic in the West.
Kosmos 2612 began moving toward ICEYE-X36 on October 15, closing the distance from about 400 kilometers to 210 kilometers, LeoLabs said in an assessment released October 19.
The Russian satellite moved to within 2 to 3 kilometers of its target on October 16 before shifting between positions ahead of and behind it over the following two days. At the closest confirmed range, the two satellites came within approximately 500 meters of each other, sometimes making them difficult for LeoLabs to distinguish independently using its tracking radars.
Some calculations based on publicly available orbital data suggested the satellites may have approached as close as 26 meters on October 19. However, that distance has not been independently confirmed.
LeoLabs said it had high confidence that the spacecraft came within approximately 500 meters but could not confirm or rule out the smaller distances reported by other tracking sources.
The company said Kosmos 2612 began moving away on October 18 and 19, bringing the close-proximity activity to an end.
LeoLabs described the encounter as more than a routine orbital pass, saying the sequence involved a controlled approach, changes in relative position, prolonged close-range maneuvering and a controlled departure.
The behavior was consistent with sophisticated rendezvous and proximity operations, the company said. Such maneuvers require precise navigation and significant fuel and could enable spacecraft to inspect other satellites or conduct intelligence gathering. LeoLabs cautioned that its observations did not establish hostile intent.
ICEYE-X36 is owned by ICEYE’s U.S. subsidiary. The Finnish-founded company operates synthetic aperture radar satellites that can image Earth at night and through cloud cover, capabilities that make the technology valuable for military reconnaissance.
Ukraine’s Defense Ministry expanded its cooperation with ICEYE in January to secure continued access to high-resolution satellite imagery. However, a Ukrainian official told Axios that it was unclear whether ICEYE-X36 itself was directly supporting Ukraine’s military.
ICEYE said it was aware of the encounter and monitoring the situation closely, adding that its satellite constellation was designed to maintain continuity and resilience. No physical damage to ICEYE-X36 was reported.
Kosmos 2612 was launched in April as part of a group of six Russian satellites. Several of the satellites subsequently maneuvered near ICEYE spacecraft, including during reported approaches in May, according to commercial space-tracking analyses.
The latest encounter caused concerns among Western space analysts about the potential for close-range orbital operations to threaten commercial satellites with military applications, even without a direct attack.
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