Russian Military Satellite Approached Within 500 Meters of ICEYE Earth-Imaging Satellite

A Russian military satellite maneuvered “very close” to a commercial Earth-imaging spacecraft in low Earth orbit, marking the first known example of an unauthorized rendezvous in orbit, according to orbital intelligence company LeoLabs.

The Russian spacecraft, Cosmos 2612, “performed a series of deliberate maneuvers toward ICEYE-X36, a U.S.-operated commercial imaging satellite,” LeoLabs said. “Cosmos 2612 approached very close to ICEYE-X36 from several hundred kilometers away. It then maneuvered around ICEYE-X36, remaining close for a long period of time, and then began to move away.”

U.S. military officials and independent analysts have tracked Cosmos 2612 since it launched on a Soyuz rocket from a spaceport in northern Russia in April. Within weeks, it was revealed that at least four of the six satellites launched were tracking ICEYE-X36 after adjusting their orbits to match those of the ICEYE spacecraft.

Cosmos 2612 carried out a controlled close approach

The situation remained stable until last week, when Cosmos 2612 began moving rapidly toward ICEYE-X36. By Friday, LeoLabs said, the Russian satellite had moved in front of and behind the ICEYE spacecraft while remaining 2 to 3 kilometers away.

Adam Marsh, vice president of technology solutions at LeoLabs, said the satellites came within 500 meters (1,640 feet) of each other over the weekend, although “they could probably be much closer than that.”

LeoLabs operates a global network of radars that tracks objects as small as two centimeters—about the size of marbles—in low Earth orbit. Because Cosmos 2612 and ICEYE-X36 were so close together, “it was sometimes difficult to distinguish between the two spacecraft individually,” LeoLabs said.

“This was not a routine conjunction or ‘flyby,’” LeoLabs said. “This sequence included a controlled approach, relative position change, close prowl, additional minor maneuvers, and controlled departure. This behavior is consistent with advanced rendezvous and close operations (RPO).”

Russia’s growing on-orbit proximity operations

The maneuvers represent a significant escalation from simply matching another satellite’s orbit. Cosmos 2612 approached, repositioned itself around ICEYE-X36, remained nearby, and then began a controlled departure—actions that LeoLabs characterized as rendezvous and proximity operations.