--- title: "Russian Nuclear Military Satellite Spinning Out of Control" description: "A top-secret Russian satellite, which US officials have linked to the country's nuclear anti-satellite weapons program, is spinning out of control. As Reuters reports, the object, called Cosmos 2553, appears to no longer be in service, indicating a major setback for the country's efforts to develop space weapons. The satellite has been orbiting the planet at 1242 miles, inside a radiation-heavy band that other constellations tend to avoid. Satellite tracker LeoLabs told the newspaper that Doppler radar measurements indicated Cosmos 2553 was moving erratically and possibly tumbling. \"This observation strongly suggests the satellite is no longer operational,\" the think tank […]" date: "2025-04-28" modified: "2025-04-28" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/russian-military-satellite-spinning-control" categories: - "Military" - "Off-World" - "Science & Energy" - "Space" tags: - "anti-satellite" - "Russia" - "the digest" --- # Russian Nuclear Military Satellite Spinning Out of Control ![A Russian satellite, which US officials have linked to the country's nuclear anti-satellite weapons program, is spinning out of control.]() *\Image: Getty / Futurism\* ## Tumbler Dot Ru A top-secret Russian satellite, which US officials have linked to the country's nuclear anti-satellite weapons program, is spinning out of control. As [*Reuters* reports](), the spacecraft — called Cosmos 2553 — appears to no longer be in service, indicating a major setback for the country's efforts to develop space weapons. The satellite has been orbiting around 1,242 miles above the planet, inside a radiation-heavy band that other spacecraft tend to avoid. Satellite tracker LeoLabs told the outlet that Doppler radar measurements indicated Cosmos 2553 was moving erratically and possibly tumbling. "This observation strongly suggests the satellite is no longer operational," the think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies wrote in an assessment last week. ## Nuke Bag Last year, Russia [denied]() US officials' [claims]() that Cosmos 2553 was part of a greater effort to develop a nuclear weapon capable of destroying entire satellite constellations. Cosmos 2553's exact purpose remains murky at best. A spokesperson for the US Space Command told *Reuters* that Russia's stated goal of testing instruments in a high-radiation environment was inconsistent "with its characteristics." "This inconsistency, paired with a demonstrated willingness to target US and Allied on-orbit objects, increases the risk of misperception and escalation," the spokesperson added. While we still don't know what exactly Russia's mysterious satellite is doing over a thousand miles above the Earth's surface, its erratic movements could indicate yet another black eye for Russia's troubled space program, as well as a strange inflection point in efforts to militarize space. Our planet's orbit is becoming an increasingly congested [domain for supremacy](), with several superpowers, including Russia and China, working on anti-satellite weapons that could give them the ability to plunge adversaries into darkness. Case in point, Russia conducted an [unexpected anti-satellite (ASAT) test]() in 2021, drawing the ire of US officials. At the time, a missile smashed into a derelict Russian satellite, creating a massive debris field that [threatened the lives]() of its own cosmonauts on board the International Space Station. **More on anti-satellite tech:** *[US Military Alarmed by Russian Nuclear Weapon Platform in Orbit]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()