The Russians despatched a potential missile-detection satellite tv for pc to house Wednesday (Nov. 2) because the nation ramps up its rhetoric about attacking U.S. satellites over Ukraine.
A Soyuz-2.1b medium-class rocket launched with the satellite tv for pc, whose function just isn’t formally disclosed, at 1:48 a.m. EDT (0648 GMT or 9:48 a.m. Moscow time), in line with Reuters (opens in new tab), who cited Russian information experiences pointing to a ministry assertion. The launch happened from Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia.
“Fight crews of the house forces … launched the Soyuz-2.1b medium-class service rocket with a spacecraft, within the pursuits of the Russian Protection Ministry,” learn a Russian-language report (opens in new tab) from FederalPress.ru, one in all a number of information sources with comparable info from the ministry. (Translation supplied by Google.)
The satellite tv for pc’s orbit suggests it’s both a GLONASS navigation satellite tv for pc or, given a supply on an internet site discussion board steered the subsequent of that sequence is below building, a Kupol missile-tracking satellite tv for pc, RussiaSpaceWeb’s Anatoly Zak mentioned in a launch report (opens in new tab). Whereas its function is unclear, the satellite tv for pc is the newest in a sequence of military-focused launches within the final month.
Associated: Russian Soyuz rocket launches 2 categorized army satellites
A number of days in the past, the White Home pledged a response if Russia follows by on threats to assault U.S. satellites getting used to assist Ukraine, which Russia invaded in February. The dispute has ruptured most Russian house partnerships all over the world.
Russian officers have mentioned for months that business U.S. satellites can be “official targets” throughout armed battle. A Russia delegation to the United Nations’ open-ended working group (OEWG) on lowering house threats reiterated this on Oct. 27, in line with Reuters (opens in new tab).
The Pentagon additionally held a categorized briefing in September in regards to the threats Russian and Chinese language house weapons pose to U.S. satellites.
Elizabeth Howell is the co-author of “Why Am I Taller (opens in new tab)?” (ECW Press, 2022; with Canadian astronaut Dave Williams), a guide about house medication. Comply with her on Twitter @howellspace (opens in new tab). Comply with us on Twitter @Spacedotcom (opens in new tab) or Fb (opens in new tab).
