Strange satellites believed to be used for intelligence gathering were found orbiting above Russian territory. According to reports, the satellites were disguised as common space debris.
Major General Oleg Maidanovich, head of Russia's Space Command, made the announcement on the Defense Ministry channel Zvezda during the showing of the state-sponsored film Space Special Forces.
"Very recently, specialists from the Main Space Intelligence Center uncovered a newly created group of space satellites... made for radio-technical reconnaissance of equipment on Russian territory," Maj. Gen. Maidanovich said.
He went on to explain that it has been common practice by espionage agencies to mask their spy satellites as space junk. These are decommissioned satellites, components of rocket stages, and other pieces of technology that were launched into space and continue to orbit the Earth. Maidanovich, however, refused to mention from which country or countries the spy satellites possibly came from.
The Main Space Intelligence Center is tasked with round-the-clock tracking more than 20,000 devices orbiting within Russia's territories. The country itself maintains around 140 items.
Regarding the alleged spy satellites, Maidanovich said that there are no current plans to destroying them. All important information is taken directly to Russia's state officials and decisions are made on an international level.
While diplomatic relations between Russia and the Western nations have been stained in recent years, both parties remain committed to outer space cooperation, including the mutual operation and maintenance of the International Space Station.
Space Special Forces
Space Special Forces feature scenes commemorating Yury Gagarin's first manned spaceflight on April 12, 1961 in what is now called "Space Day." The 40-minute film is dedicated to the efforts of the government during the Cold War space race between the Soviet Union and United States.
"One talks of peaceful satellites, but there are known cases when groups of potential enemy satellites formed against our satellites, above our territory," the voice-over for the film said.
"There are cases when a space satellite pretends to be space junk for years and then wakes up and starts working at the right moment."
NOAA Photo Library | Flickr
