Driving the news
Russia claims that the Cosmos-2553 spacecraft is intended for scientific research, a claim that US officials say isn’t plausible.
The satellite was launched 19 days before President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
Russia’s ministry of defense said that the spacecraft was “equipped with newly developed onboard instruments and systems for testing them under conditions of exposure to radiation and heavy charged particles.”
However, assistant secretary of state Mallory Stewart challenged this explanation, saying that the satellite’s orbit is in a region not used by any other spacecraft and has a higher radiation environment than normal lower Earth orbits, but not high enough to allow accelerated testing of electronics as Russia has described.
Between the lines
As per the WSJ report, the US has been aware of Russia’s interest in a nuclear anti-satellite capability for years, but it has only recently been able to better determine the program’s progress.
The US efforts to discuss its concerns about the anti-satellite program directly with Russian officials have been rebuffed, officials said.
Concerns over Russia’s nuclear antisatellite capabilities have led to heightened tension in Washington.
In February, Rep Mike Turner highlighted a “serious national-security threat” linked to this issue, urging President Biden to declassify relevant information.
The US and Japan attempted to address the situation by proposing a UN resolution affirming the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, but Russia vetoed it, arguing the resolution didn’t go far enough to ban all types of space weapons.
Why it matters
As per a Foreign Policy report, the United States, along with its allies, relies extensively on a network of space-based command and control satellites that are pivotal for crucial military communications, intelligence gathering, and targeting capabilities.
These satellites are especially vital in a scenario where conventional warfare could escalate to nuclear conflict, ensuring that the White House and the defense department can monitor the status and security of the United States’ 5,244 nuclear warheads. Recognizing this critical role, the Pentagon plans to invest $8 billion to reinforce these systems.
However, the threat extends beyond military concerns. Commercial satellites, which are integral to global communications and economic systems, would also be at risk. The consequences of a nuclear detonation in space would be far-reaching, affecting life on Earth in significant ways.
If deployed, this weapon would enable Moscow to destroy hundreds of satellites in low Earth orbit with a nuclear blast. The aftermath could disrupt or completely dismantle the global economic and communication frameworks for years, rendering certain orbits hazardous or even unusable due to accumulating space debris.
In practical terms, this could mean losing the internet connection you currently rely on and the functionality of the smartphone you are using right now, the Foreign Policy report said.
What they are saying
Russia claims the satellite is intended for scientific research, but US officials dispute this. Assistant secretary of state Mallory Stewart remarked that the orbit of Cosmos-2553 is unusual and not used by other spacecraft, suggesting the satellite’s true purpose is related to Russia’s antisatellite ambitions.
“The orbit is in a region not used by any other spacecraft—that in itself was somewhat unusual,” she said.
What next
The US continues to monitor and assess Russia’s space activities.
Efforts to engage Russian officials directly on this issue have been unsuccessful.
As per the Foreign Policy report, the Biden administration reportedly contacted both China and India, urging them to leverage their influence to persuade Moscow against deploying a space weapon.
As Cosmos-2553 remains in orbit, the international community remains vigilant about the potential escalation of space weaponization.
(With inputs from agencies)