When a Russian satellite that can launch other satellites into orbit maneuvered close to an American satellite last June, it was the latest move in a dangerous game of cat and mouse in space.
Cosmos 2558 has been seen following the USA 326 satellite since the Russian satellite was launched into space in 2022. But now it has come up with a surprise, releasing a smaller module that has begun moving even closer to the American satellite.
"This is the second time we've seen such an action from the Russian side," said DeAnna Burt, who at the time of the incident was director of operations for the United States Space Force.
"You have a satellite that has another satellite inside it, which we believe is a KK or Kinetic Kill vehicle, which will be able to move and rendezvous with another satellite and potentially damage it or photograph it or perform various actions," she added.
Burt retired in October 2025 and spoke to RFE/RL during a visit to Prague, hosted by the Aspen Institute. In an interview on January 30, she discussed threats to satellites from Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, as well as a "shadow" conflict that has been brewing since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
