Russian satellite maneuvers close to US-registered ICEYE-X36

According to satellite trackers, a Russian military satellite, Kosmos 2612, maneuvered to within 136 meters of the U.S.-registered ICEYE-X36 radar imaging satellite, with a closer pass of about 48 meters predicted for Monday. Dutch satellite tracker Marco Langbroek reported that maneuvers since September 30 aimed to match the orbit of ICEYE-X36.

Astronomer Jonathan McDowell described it as the first known case of an active satellite making an uninvited close approach to another active satellite in low Earth orbit. Finnish company ICEYE has supplied radar imagery to Ukraine since 2022, though it remains unclear if this satellite serves Ukraine. No damage has been reported.