US EditionRussian Spy Satellite Breaks Apart in Orbit, Raising Debris Fears
The Luch/Olymp satellite fragmented in a graveyard orbit after decommissioning, raising concerns about debris risks in geostationary space, experts say.
- On Jan. 30 the Luch/Olymp satellite disintegrated and began tumbling in a graveyard orbit a few hundred miles above GEO, with ground imagery identifying a fragmentation event.
- Launched in 2014, the Luch/Olymp satellite was used by Russia to inspect spacecraft in the GEO belt, a activity also carried out by the US and China in recent years.
- Optical imagery from s2A systems shows what appears to be a fragmentation as the satellite disintegrates and begins to tumble, with a time-lapse on X capturing the event at 06:09:03.486 UTC.
- Jonathan McDowell warned that the fragmentation may have been caused by an external debris impact, suggesting the GEO and graveyard orbit debris environment is worse than previously believed.
- The satellite had been decommissioned and moved to a graveyard orbit in October 2025, but Russia still operates a second Luch/Olymp inspector satellite launched in 2023.
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13 Articles
The reconnaissance satellite Luch Olymp K2 was destroyed after a collision with space debris. Known for its espionage activities, it had been placed in "cimeter" orbit by Russia. Its successors...
It is not yet clear whether this incident is accidental or deliberate action.
A Russian satellite, originally used to inspect other spacecraft, seems to be falling high above the earth. A Swiss company shows images.
Russian 'inspector' satellite appears to break apart in orbit, raising debris concerns
Ground-based observations suggest the former geostationary inspector satellite suffered a fragmentation event months after retirement, raising new concerns about debris in high Earth orbit.
What is in this message has a “real kernel” but is immediately overlaid with unsubstantiated attribution and then a belligerent/deterrent conclusion. Verification Summary✅ Verifiable Section (with sources) A fragmentation/breakup event for the Russian satellite Luch/Olymp with NORAD ID #40258 in the GEO graveyard orbit was reported on January 30, 2026 at approximately 06:09 UTC and was imaged...Read More “A fragmentation/breakup event for the Ru…
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