The US has accused Russia of launching a potential space weapon, further escalating tensions between the two superpowers in the celestial arena. According to US Space Command, a satellite named COSMOS 2576, deployed on May 16th alongside civilian payloads, is believed to be capable of inspecting and even attacking other satellites.
This accusation stems from concerns surrounding COSMOS 2576’s resemblance to past Russian “inspector” satellites. US officials have long condemned these maneuvers, which involve bringing the inspector satellites close to sensitive US spy satellites in what they perceive as reckless behavior.
Russia fiercely refutes the allegations in spite of the US’s assertions. Sergey Ryabkov, Russia’s deputy foreign minister, called the claims “fake news” and reaffirmed Moscow’s opposition to placing weapons in orbit. This position was reiterated by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, who emphasized Russia’s support for a ban on space-based weapons and its commitment to international law.
However, the situation remains murky. As of now, COSMOS 2576 hasn’t physically approached any US satellites. However, a review of orbital data by Reuters suggests the Russian satellite is trailing a large US spy satellite, USA 314, in the same orbital ring and at a faster speed, indicating a potential close encounter in the future.
This incident adds fuel to the fire of existing tensions. The US has long suspected Russia of developing a space-based nuclear weapon program capable of crippling entire satellite networks. While Russia maintains it possesses only space capabilities similar to the US and denies any nuclear ambitions, US intelligence believes COSMOS 2553, another recent Russian launch, is linked to this program.
These developments come against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Ukraine. Since the invasion in February 2022, Russia has shrouded its space activities in secrecy and threatened to attack US satellites aiding the Ukrainian defense, such as SpaceX’s Starlink network.
In the UN Security Council, the US and Russia have a history of arguing about space weaponry. 2020 saw Russia brush off US and UK charges that it was testing an anti-satellite missile as “propaganda.” This most recent occurrence emphasizes how urgently international discourse and laws are needed to stop a weapons race in space, a region that is essential for scientific study, global communication, and navigation.
