Russian Satellite Maneuvers, Silence Worry Intelsat

[InfoSec News <alerts () infosecnews org>]

http://spacenews.com/russian-satellite-maneuvers-silence-worry-intelsat/

By Mike Gruss
Spacenews.com
October 9, 2015

WASHINGTON - A mysterious Russian military satellite parked itself between 
two Intelsat satellites in geosynchronous orbit for five months this year, 
alarming company executives and leading to classified meetings among U.S. 
government officials.

The Russian satellite, alternatively known as Luch or Olymp, launched in 
September 2014 and seven months later moved to a position directly between 
the Intelsat 7 and Intelsat 901 satellites, which are located within half 
a degree of one another 36,000 kilometers above the equator. At times, the 
Russian satellite maneuvered to about 10 kilometers of the Intelsat space 
vehicles, sources said, a distance so close that company leaders believed 
their satellites could be at risk.

The satellite’s movements were highlighted by Brian Weeden, technical 
adviser at the Secure World Foundation, in an Oct. 5 analysis of Russian 
rendezvous and proximity operations for SpaceNews’ sister publication, the 
Space Review.

“This is not normal behavior and we’re concerned,” Kay Sears, president of 
Intelsat General, the government services arm of Intelsat, said in an Oct. 
8 interview with SpaceNews. “We absolutely need responsible operators. 
Space is a domain that has to be protected.”

[...]

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