By 
October 20th, 2026
Wait-a-Minute!
Image credit: Barbara David
It is a troublesome wait-a-minute moment in space.
Satellite watcher Marco Langbroek in Leiden, the Netherlands, reports that there are worrisome approach maneuvers by Russia’s Cosmos 2612 and a US registered, radar satellite ICEYE-X36.
“This RPO (Rendezvous and Proximity Operation) is completely non-consensual,” explains Langbroek. Another maneuver by the Russian spacecraft took place on October 18. “This could either be to bring the satellite further away from the target, or the first of a set of phasing maneuvers for a future new approach,” he adds.
As noted by Langbroek, starting on September 30, the Russian spacecraft made a series of maneuvers. “These were clearly designed to bring Cosmos 2612 close to ICEYE-X36 and synchronize orbital altitude, eccentricity and orbital period.”
The ICEYE space firm owns the world’s largest and most advanced SAR (synthetic aperture radar) satellite constellation.
Image credit: ICEYE
“Anti-up” warfare?
In an earlier posting, Langbroek pointed out that “if ICEYE-X36 is indeed used by Ukraine, this means that a satellite from one country (Russia) is closely approaching a satellite of another country (Ukraine) with which it is at war.”
All this “worrisome cat-and-mouse-game” has Langbroek stating: “So I wonder and worry whether we are perhaps watching a first actual on-orbit ASAT [Anti-Satellite] attack in the making here…”
ICEYE satellites provide Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR).
Image credit: ICEYE
Dangerous maneuvers
In a related story, “Russian satellite stalked ICEYE spacecraft in potentially dangerous on-orbit maneuvers” reports Theresa Hitchens, senior reporter, space at Breaking Defense.
Image credit: Marco Langbroek
For the Hitchens story, go to: https://breakingdefense.com/2026/10/russian-satellite-stalked-iceye-spacecraft-in-potentially-dangerous-on-orbit-maneuvers/
Meanwhile, I reached out to the group providing ICEYE spacecraft for a statement about the situation. The response, attributable to an ICEYE U.S. spokesperson:
“We are aware of the situation and tracking it closely. Our constellation architecture is designed for continuity and resilience.”
For more details on ICEYE, go to:
Wait-a-Minute!
Image credit: Barbara David
Posted in Space News
