Russia has launched an unknown object into space that is currently visiting satellites in low Earth orbit, which experts believe could be an anti-satellite weapon.
The unknown object known as Kosmos 2499 has been making regular changes to its orbit in the past year. It appears to have successfully maneuvered to just a few tens of metres of the Briz-KM upper rocket stage, the BBC reported.
Kosmos 2499 was launched along with three other communications satellites on December 25, 2013, BBC reported. It was originally thought to be a piece of debris. However, an independent observer, Robert Christy, had observed Kosmos 2499 carry out several maneuvers, Extreme Tech reported.
Russia told the United Nations in May that there had been four satellites on board the rocket, without giving any details about Kosmos 2499, according to Extreme Tech.
An anti-satellite weapon is capable of carrying out such manoeuvres so that it can fly close to another satellite, and destroy it by using a robot arm to disable the solar panels or by placing a small disabling explosive charge, according to the New Scientist.
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