Russian satellite linked to nuclear weapon program appears out of control, U.S. analysts say (www.reuters.com)
from zaxvenz@lemm.ee to world@lemmy.world on 26 Apr 01:46
https://lemm.ee/post/62419364

The secretive Russian satellite in space that U.S. officials believe is connected to a nuclear anti-satellite weapon program has appeared to be spinning uncontrollably, suggesting it may no longer be functioning in what could be a setback for Moscow’s space weapon efforts, according to U.S. analysts.

Believed to be a radar satellite for Russian intelligence as well as a radiation testing platform, the satellite last year became the center of U.S. allegations that Russia for years has been developing a nuclear weapon capable of destroying entire satellite networks, such as SpaceX’s vast Starlink internet system that Ukrainian troops have been using.

archive.ph/n8SO8

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TransplantedSconie@lemm.ee on 26 Apr 01:56 next collapse

Who had drunken Russian satellite on their 2025 Chaos Bingo cards?

Tinidril@midwest.social on 26 Apr 02:20 next collapse

I didn’t predict it yet… it somehow feels like I should have.

random_character_a@lemmy.world on 26 Apr 08:06 collapse

We’ll see.

I have that a satellite falls in Indian city and is radioactive, but nobody gives a shit.

[deleted] on 26 Apr 03:56 next collapse
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NOT_RICK@lemmy.world on 26 Apr 04:41 next collapse

Their space program sure isn’t something

tal@lemmy.today on 26 Apr 06:12 collapse

I’m not sure how much of a setback this is.

If it failed and it’s out of control, I assume that it’s an issue with normal “satellite” things — the computer or the thrusters or whatever, stuff that’s involved in maneuvering the satellite. A failure in systems that Russia can and has done before. Not with the radar systems onboard.

And I’d guess that the costs are mostly in R&D rather than the manufacturing of the satellite, costs that wouldn’t need to be repeated for Russia to build such a satellite over again.

I assume that if Russia wants to do so, they can launch a replacement satellite.

hitmyspot@aussie.zone on 26 Apr 10:11 collapse

How much do you think it costs to build and launch a new satellite? Do you have enough faith in Russian manufactthat this won’t happen again, in a slightly different way? Will all the replacement money end up where it should?