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Russian satellite’s close approach to European spacecraft highlights orbital risks

Russian satellite’s close approach to European spacecraft highlights orbital risks
South China Morning Post Wednesday 21 October 2026, 02:58 UTC By Agence France-Presse 1 min read
Key Points

A Russian satellite moved within just 100 metres of a European commercial spacecraft that supports Ukraine’s military at the weekend, orbital tracking data showed, raising concerns about Moscow’s activities in space. Russia launched the Cosmos-2612 military satellite into low Earth orbit in April. It began changing course late September and eventually moved into the same orbit as ICEYE-X36, a satellite operated by Finland’s ICEYE under contract with the United States.

A Russian satellite moved within just 100 metres of a European commercial spacecraft that supports Ukraine’s military at the weekend, orbital tracking data showed, raising concerns about Moscow’s activities in space. Russia launched the Cosmos-2612 military satellite into low Earth orbit in April. It began changing course late September and eventually moved into the same orbit as ICEYE-X36, a satellite operated by Finland’s ICEYE under contract with the United States. The two spacecraft came...
Russian (ORG) European (ORG) Ukraine (LOCATION) Moscow (LOCATION) Russia (LOCATION) Earth (LOCATION) ICEYE-X36 (ORG) Finland (LOCATION) the United States (LOCATION)
Originally published by South China Morning Post Read original →

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