Indian, Russian satellites 'dangerously close'

Russian space agency Roscosmos issued a statement saying the TsNIIMash main information and analytical center of the Warning Automated System of Hazardous Situations in near-Earth Space (part of Roscosmos), on November 27, 2020, at 01:49 UTC and the active Indian, Cartosat-2F, satellite weighing over 700 kg dangerously approached the Russian Kanopus-V spacecraft.

Bengaluru:Indian CARTOSAT-2F and Russia's Kanopus-V are "dangerously close" in the near earth orbit. In view of this, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Russian space agency Roscosmos are closely monitoring the situation.

Russian space agency Roscosmos issued a statement saying the TsNIIMash main information and analytical center of the Warning Automated System of Hazardous Situations in near-Earth Space (part of Roscosmos), on November 27, 2020, at 01:49 UTC and the active Indian, Cartosat-2F, satellite weighing over 700 kg dangerously approached the Russian Kanopus-V spacecraft.

According to the TsNIIMash calculations, the minimum distance between the Russian and foreign satellites was 224 meters. Both spacecraft are designed for Earth’s remote sensing.

ISRO sources have confirmed to ETV Bharat that ISRO is tracking this since 4 days and manoeuvre will be done only when Russian satellite reaches closer at a distance of about 150 meters. Also according to ISRO, Kanopus-V is 420 meters away from CARTOSAT.

CARTOSAT-2F is still functional and was launched on January 12, 2018, from Sriharikota launchpad.