Russian satellite Kosmos 2612 makes risky close pass by ICEYE-X36

Russian satellite Kosmos 2612 conducted an uncooperative rendezvous with the commercial SAR spacecraft ICEYE-X36 between Oct. 15 and Oct. 19, possibly closing to just a few meters. ICEYE supplies high-resolution imagery to Ukraine, which likely explains Russian interest in the craft.

• The encounter occurred Oct. 15–19, with separation possibly shrinking to a few meters
• ICEYE-X36 is a commercial SAR satellite of the US arm of Finland's ICEYE
• In January ICEYE firmed a contract to supply imagery to Ukraine's Ministry of Defence
• Earlier Kosmos 2543 and 2558 approached US satellites to within 30 km and 70 km