An unidentified Russian satellite orbiting earth since May is most likely harmless — intended to help solve the problem of space debris, according to
RT, the state-funded Russian news service.
Press and social media
speculation about the satellite has been growing. RT, which some believe is a mouthpiece for the Russian President Vladimir Putin, took note of the speculation, acknowledged that the Russian military refused to comment, and then quoted a source who opined that the satellite was innocuous.
The Financial Times broke the story on Nov. 17, noting that the suspicious satellite — Object 2014-28E — was launched with three announced military satellites dubbed Kosmos-2496, Kosmos-2497, and Kosmos-2498.
The questions surrounding Object 2014-28E led to speculation that Moscow was revitalizing its satellite-killer weaponry from Soviet days. The Russians have long warned that if relations with the U.S. continued to deteriorate, they may be obliged to move ahead with space weapons to take out enemy satellites.
"It could have a number of functions, some civilian and some military. One possibility is for some kind of grabber bar. Another would be kinetic pellets which shoot out at another satellite. Or possibly there could be a satellite-to-satellite cyber attack or jamming," said space security specialist Patricia Lewis of the Chatham House think tank.
"Whatever it is, [it] looks experimental," Lewis told the FT.
RT said that a "less alarmist" interpretation of Object 2014-28E's purpose "did not really make the headlines."
It cited
Colin Philp "a space exploration expert" with the British Interplanetary Society as saying, "I think this issue is more about space debris and space debris removal than anything else. At the moment there is a huge problem — and a growing problem — with space debris and there are efforts now to contain the problem."
Philp, who is identified by the British society as a "professional photographer" and "space enthusiast," said that 20,000 objects are currently in low Earth orbit and that Object 2014-28E "certainly" looks "like another way of treating" the problem of space junk, according to RT.
RT concluded that the satellite in question could be on a "safe mission, testing technology that could potentially help, not harm, other satellites, such as providing in-orbit repair or refueling services."
The RT story also referred to
the classified X-37B U.S. spacecraft that recently returned to earth after a two-year mission as "notorious."
Both China and the U.S. are reported to have rockets with the capability to shoot down satellites, according to the FT.