[Reading Science] Russian 'Killer Satellite' Breaks Apart, Producing Massive Space Debris

US Space Force Reveals Russian Cosmos 2499 Satellite
Broke Apart on the 4th, Creating at Least 85 Pieces of Space Debris

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] Russia's killer satellite has broken apart, once again generating a large amount of space debris and sparking public criticism.

Satellite destruction image.

The U.S. Space Force's 18th Space Defense Squadron posted on its official Twitter account on the morning of the 7th that Russia's Cosmos 2499 satellite, known as a 'killer satellite,' broke apart around 3:57 a.m. on the 4th at an altitude of 1,169 km, producing a large amount of space debris. During this process, 85 pieces of debris large enough to be tracked were generated. Because the altitude is very high, it is expected to orbit for more than 100 years before re-entering the atmosphere and burning up. However, the squadron did not disclose the reason why the satellite broke apart.

This satellite is known as a killer satellite launched by Russia. It was launched in May 2014 along with three military communication satellites from Rodnik and placed into orbit, but its exact purpose has not been confirmed. Only the call sign 'Norad 39765' has been made public. However, many satellite experts believe this satellite is an attack satellite system (ASAT) created by Russia to attack satellites of the U.S. and other countries. While the other communication satellites launched together remained stationary after reaching orbit, this satellite surprisingly began moving separately after orbit insertion. At the time, Russian authorities did not provide any specific explanation regarding these suspicions. The U.S. authorities, who initially thought the debris was caused by the communication satellite launch, officially reclassified this satellite as 'Cosmos 2499' at the end of October that year and have been closely monitoring its position three to four times a day.

Russia has a notorious reputation for frequently conducting satellite destruction tests, producing large amounts of space debris since as early as November 2011. China also conducted satellite destruction tests in 2007, and India did so in 2019. The U.S. has been campaigning since April last year to ban satellite destruction tests through international agreements. South Korea also announced its participation in October last year.

The European Space Agency (ESA) estimates that about 36,500 trackable pieces of space debris larger than 10 cm are orbiting Earth, and including those as small as about 1 mm that are untrackable, the total is estimated to exceed 130 million. This space debris orbits at an incredible speed of 7 km per second. Even the smallest debris can cause fatal damage upon collision, forcing the International Space Station (ISS) and satellites of various countries to perform avoidance maneuvers and suffer damage. In 1978, NASA scientist Donald Kessler argued that the exponential increase in debris from satellite collisions and destruction could make it difficult for humanity to venture beyond Earth, coining the term 'Kessler Syndrome.'