Kosmos 2499

The article, “That's No Moon! Did Russia Deploy An Experimental Killer Satellite?” by Tyler Rogoway, discusses an application of unmanned space-based systems I had not yet considered.  I came across the article this week on my iPhone’s news feed and I thought it would be perfect for this week’s post.  The article does not take a stance on human based exploration, but instead focuses on a possibly new area of unmanned space based warfare. 

           

Rokot/Briz-KM Launch on May 23, 2014.

Kosmos 2499 is the satellite designation for an unknown object launched by the Russian Federation on May 23, 2014.  The three stage Rokot/Briz-KM orbital carrier launched a payload of three Russian military communication satellites:  Kosmos 2496, Kosmos 2497, and Kosmos 2498.  However, shortly after launch the US Government noticed strange radar returns.  According to the BBC,  “the US military initially classified the object as debris, but it then emerged that the Russian government had told the United Nations the launch had sent four satellites into orbit rather than three”  (Rincon, 2014).

            Astronomers from around the world reported that shortly after launch, Kosmos 2499 performed a series of unusual powered maneuvers to change its orbit.  On November 9, the object approached an inactive stage of the rocket that initially launched it into orbit.  According to satellite observer Robert Christy, the Kosmos 2499 got within a few meters of the rocket stage.      

The official Moscow Institute of Physics & Technology website stated that the satellite was designed to test experimental plasma propulsion engine ion thrusters.  Rogoway speculates that the Kosmos 2499 may be Russia’s answer to the US Air Force X-37B.  The Moscow Times article, “Expert Says Russia, China and U.S. All Working on Satellite Killers” quotes Christy as saying:

Autonomous rendezvous by small satellites has always been considered a useful capability, for purposes of resupply, repair, inspection or even negation. … The fact that the recent Chinese and Russian experiments have been done with no official announcements, and appear independent of already existing [civilian] rendezvous systems, does suggest to me they are not for peaceful purposes.

Rogoway classifies the Kosmos 2499 as an inspector satellite that he defines as a maneuverable space vehicle that can approach other satellites for both passive and active purposes.  The purposes may range from taking photographs or measurements of satellites, targeting transmissions, jamming, hijacking, or complete satellite destruction.  The full ranges of possibilities are vast.

The X-37B

 However, if the theories outlined in the article are close to accurate, there is a bright side.  The technology used in Kosmos 2499 or possibly the X-37B may someday be used to advance technologies needed to refuel or repair orbiting satellites.  Servicing satellites in geosynchronous orbit is best suited as an unmanned endeavor because astronauts outside the protection of Earth’s magnetic field would be exposed to dangerously high levels of radiation.  The ability of unmanned systems servicing satellites will save a tremendous amount of money and time.

The equal advancement of both manned and unmanned space systems will yield the best results the future of the human race.  If early aviation pioneers had access to wind tunnels, computer simulations, and drones, technology would have developed much fast and fewer people would have lost their lives on the way.  Our technological state has enabled us to let probes and rovers lead the way to explore new worlds.  The data collected by unmanned space systems will one day be used to send humans to new worlds.  

References

Атомная лицензия ГАН (2014). Object 2014-28E. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.sdelanounas.ru/blogs/55092/. [Last Accessed 21 November, 2014].

BBC (2014). Russia Tests 'Satellite Catcher'. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-30097643. [Last Accessed 21 November, 2014].

Bodner, Matthew (2014). Expert Says Russia, China and U.S. All Working on 'Satellite Killers'. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/russia-s-isn-t-the-only-satellite-killer-in-space/511403.html. [Last Accessed 21 November, 2014].

Rogoway, Tyler (2014). That's No Moon! Did Russia Deploy An Experimental Killer Satellite?. [ONLINE] Available at: http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/thats-no-moon-did-russia-deploy-an-experimental-killer-1661535449. [Last Accessed 21 November, 2014].