---
title: "Russian Spacecraft Accused of Tailgating US Spy Satellite by Just 37 Miles"
description: "The US military is saying that Russia just launched a new satellite, Kosmos 2558, in order to shadow an orbital US spy satellite. Again."
date: "2022-08-11"
modified: "2022-08-29"
authors:
  - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré"
    job_title: "Senior Staff Writer"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/russian-spacecraft-tailgating-satellite"
categories:
  - "Off-World"
  - "Space"
tags:
  - "Russia"
  - "satellites"
  - "spy satellites"
  - "the digest"
---

# Russian Spacecraft Accused of Tailgating US Spy Satellite by Just 37 Miles

![The US military is saying that Russia just launched a new satellite, Kosmos 2558, in order to shadow an orbital US spy satellite. Again.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/us-military-russian-spacecraft-tailgating-spy-satellite.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Russian Ministry of Defense\</em\>*

## Space Spies

The US military says that Russia just [launched a new satellite](<https://www.space.com/russia-spacecraft-stalk-us-spy-satellite>), called Kosmos 2558, specifically to shadow an orbital [US reconnaissance satellite](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/us-space-force-four-top-secret-spy-satellites>). Again.

*Space.com* [reports that](<https://www.space.com/russia-inspector-satellite-kosmos-2558-irresponsible-behavior>) Kosmos 2558, dubbed an "inspector satellite," was launched into the same orbit as US spy satellite USA 326 back on August 1. According to information gleaned by a Netherlands-based satellite tracking system called Marco Langbroek, the Russian vessel appears to be hovering within just 37 miles of the US spacecraft.

As one might imagine, the Pentagon is none too pleased.

"That's really irresponsible behavior," Gen. James H. Dickinson, Commander of U.S. Space Command, [said on *NBC Nightly News*](<https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/top-u-s-generals-take-issue-with-russian-satellite-near-u-s-orbit-145831493597>). "We see that it's in a similar orbit to one of our high-value assets for the U.S. government. And so we'll continue like we always do, to continue to update that and track that."

## Eat My Dust

This isn't the first time that Russia has put similar "inspector" gadgets into orbit. Not too long after former president Donald Trump formed America's valiant Space Force, Russia sent [the first of the tailgating crafts](<https://www.space.com/russian-spacecraft-stalking-us-spy-satellite-space-force.html>) into orbit in early 2020, also uncomfortably close to a US counterpart — marking the first encounter in which the US, at least publicly, faced a direct off-world threat to its military tech.

"We view this behavior as unusual and disturbing," Gen. John "Jay" Raymond, chief [Guardian](<https://www.military.com/daily-news/2022/06/29/how-do-you-create-guardian-look-inside-space-forces-first-specialized-basic-training.html#:~:text=Space%20Force%20Guardians%20go%20through,satellites%20under%20the%20branch's%20control.>) of space operations for the Space Force, told [*Time Magazine* at the time](<https://time.com/5779315/russian-spacecraft-spy-satellite-space-force/?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social-share-article>). "It has the potential to create a dangerous situation in space."

As USA 326 is a spysat, most information about it — what it does, why it does it — is classified. That being said, it's also unclear what Russia might gain from just... following it around? In any case, no one — including the Pentagon — likes a tailgater.

*Updated to correct error about the tailgating distance.*

**READ MORE:** *[Pentagon space chief condemns 'irresponsible' launch of Russian inspector satellite](<https://www.space.com/russia-inspector-satellite-kosmos-2558-irresponsible-behavior>)* \[*Space.com*\]

**More on Russian spysats:** [*Hackers Claim They've Seized Control of Russian Spy Satellites*](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/hackers-russian-satellites>)

## Author
At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride."

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/mharrisondupre.bsky.social>)