Mysterious object released by Russian 'Kosmos' satellites sparks global curiosity
Moscow: A group of Russian satellites launched earlier this year has drawn international attention after one of them released an unidentified object in orbit, raising questions about its purpose.
The satellites — Kosmos 2581, 2582, and 2583 — were launched in early February from Russia’s Plesetsk Cosmodrome and are currently positioned in near-polar orbits approximately 585 kilometres above the Earth. Although Moscow has not publicly disclosed the mission’s objectives, recent developments have triggered speculation among space agencies and analysts.
On 18 March, global tracking networks, including the U.S. Space Force, detected a new object in orbit. Initially believed to have originated from Kosmos 2581, the object was later linked to Kosmos 2583. The deployment of the object while the satellite cluster remained operational is considered unusual in conventional satellite missions.
Before this incident, experts had already noted that the Kosmos satellites were conducting "proximity operations" — manoeuvring near other objects in space. Such behaviour is rarely associated with routine satellite activity, hinting at a potentially strategic or experimental role.
Astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics commented that these controlled movements suggest the satellites are engaged in more than basic space observation. In an interview with Space.com, he indicated a possible military or research-related purpose.
Theories surrounding the released object range from a component for formation-flying tests to a military payload. While the possibility of mechanical malfunction has not been ruled out, experts note that such failures usually result in multiple fragments — none of which have been detected.
Russia’s long-standing use of the "Kosmos" designation for both scientific and defence missions, often cloaked in secrecy, continues to fuel speculation. Launching satellites in trios is not uncommon and has previously been adopted by other nations like the United States and China for surveillance or coordinated experiments.
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They were like my brothers: Survivor recalls how local Muslims helped her to safety after J&K attack
Srinagar: One of the survivors of the horrific attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, a resident of Karnataka, shared that local Muslim men helped her and her child reach a safer location, describing them as her “brothers” for their support and compassion.
Pallavi, the survivor, stated that she and her son were with her husband, Manjunath Rao, at the time he was shot. “We had reached the spot by horse riding. My husband was looking to buy something for my son to eat. Within minutes, I found my husband in a pool of blood. He died in front of my eyes, and I was helpless,” she shared.
Expressing gratitude to the locals who came to her aid during the horrific incident, Pallavi said that they have been extremely supportive and caring. “Three local Muslims, reciting ‘Bismillah’, helped us come down from the spot where the attack took place. They were like my brothers,” she said.
She added that one of them carried her son, while the other two helped her navigate the difficult terrain.
Pallavi, a manager at the Birur branch of the Malnad Areca Marketing Cooperative Society (MAMCOS), said it had been her husband’s dream to visit Kashmir. Visibly distressed, she said, “Now, I feel we should not have come here.”
Manjunath Rao, a 47-year-old realtor, was on a trip to Jammu Kashmir with his wife and their 18-year-old son. They had left Shivamogga for the trip on April 19 and were scheduled to return on April 24.
Geetha, the mother-in-law of Manjunatha Rao, expressed deep sorrow, stating that the family had sent their children to Kashmir believing the government's assurances of safety. She said they would not have allowed the trip had they been informed that the situation there was unsafe.
Meanwhile, district in-charge Minister Madhu Bangarappa informed the bereaved family about the arrangements made by the state government to bring Manjunatha Rao's mortal remains back to Shivamogga.
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