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.

https://archive.ph/n8SO8

  • tal@lemmy.today
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    5 hours ago

    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
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      47 minutes ago

      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?