A Russian military satellite has been found maneuvering in 'extreme proximity' to a Ukrainian commercial satellite, raising eyebrows in the space community. The Russian spacecraft, Kosmos 2612, made a deliberate approach towards ICEYE-X36, a US-operated commercial imaging satellite, closing from hundreds of kilometers away to just 2 to 3 kilometers before maintaining a close orbit for several days.

The incident, tracked by the orbital intelligence company LeoLabs, is the first known unsanctioned rendezvous in low-Earth orbit and has sparked concerns about potential espionage or more sinister intentions. US military officials and independent analysts have been monitoring Kosmos 2612 since its April launch, with the satellite adjusting its orbit to align with the ICEYE satellite's path.

Adam Marsh, LeoLabs' vice president of technical solutions, noted that the satellites were within 500 meters of one another over the weekend, which is 'likely quite a bit closer than that.' The company's global network of radars, which can track objects as small as 2 centimeters, struggled to distinguish the two spacecraft during the approach. This maneuvering sequence, including a controlled approach, changes in relative position, and a controlled departure, suggests sophisticated rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO).

This development highlights the growing complexity of space activities and the potential for new forms of conflict in the final frontier.