RUSSIA TESTS 'SATELLITE CATCHER' (STA BREAKING NEWS and ARCHIVES)

by STANews , Tuesday, November 18, 2014, 12:12

Russia may be testing a satellite capable of chasing down other orbiting spacecraft, observers say.

Such technology could be used for a wide variety of uses, including to repair malfunctioning spacecraft, but also to destroy or disable them.

The Kosmos 2499 satellite separated from the upper stage of its rocket two years ago and then chased it down.

The Russian mission follows similar on-orbit tests this year carried out by the US and China.

Kosmos 2499 was launched on 25 December 2013 as part of a seemingly routine mission to add new Rodnik communications satellites to an existing constellation.

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