In early February, Russia put into orbit three Cosmos satellites numbered 2581, 2582 and 2583. Their purpose was not officially disclosed, which immediately set off a wave of speculation: are they part of secret military experiments? The situation escalated in March when Cosmos-2583 released an unknown object. According to the U.S. Space Force, this could be a test of orbital weapons technology in future space conflicts.
What is known about Russian satellites?
The satellites were launched using a Soyuz rocket. All three vehicles are placed in low-Earth orbit at an altitude of about 500 kilometers, where reconnaissance satellites traditionally operate. Harvard astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell noted that they came close to each other several times between February 25 and March 14, and on March 7, two of them quickly passed Cosmos 2583.
CNN reported that Pentagon officials believed the satellites were practicing tactics for attacking and blocking targets. In their opinion, the vehicles simulated the encircling of an “enemy” satellite, demonstrating the possibility of disabling it. McDowell, however, is skeptical of this version.
Kosmos-2581 (A), 2582 (B), 2583 (C) separation. Blue = A-B, Red = A-C, Green = B-C. AB did proximity ops from Feb 25 to Mar 14. They passed C quickly on Mar 7, but that could just be coincidence of the fact they are in similar orbits, no evidence of targeting. pic.twitter.com/7SwMt8Avrr
— Jonathan McDowell (@planet4589) March 17, 2025
“Their orbits are similar, so the approaches could be accidental. We need evidence of a deliberate maneuver,” he said on social network X.
Spying in Earth orbit
This is not the first time Russia has launched spy satellites. In 2022, Cosmos-2558 orbited a U.S. military vehicle, probably to collect data. The current trio can perform similar tasks, from monitoring other countries to testing interception mechanisms.
The U.S. Space Force has already classified the new object from Cosmos-2583 as a potential threat. Experts note: modern technologies allow satellites to change orbit, “take out” other vehicles or even attack them with kinetic weapons. If an aggressor country develops such systems, it would violate international agreements on the peaceful uses of space.
Space battlefield
So far, all versions remain hypotheses. But the fact remains that space is becoming a new field of geopolitical confrontation. For example, China is also conducting similar tests, and the US is developing its own interceptor satellites.
The secrecy around Russian satellites, their incomprehensible maneuvers and the appearance of a mysterious object – all of this resembles the scenario of a sci-fi thriller. But it’s already become dramatic when the war returns to space once again.
For now, the world is keeping a close eye on Earth orbit, where a new chapter of technological confrontation is taking place.
Earlier we reported on how a destroyed Russian satellite forced ISS astronauts to urgently shelter from the debris.
According to Gizmodo
