Russia Launches Mysterious Object into Space
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Purestock/Thinkstock(MOSCOW) — Western space agencies are tracking a mysterious object that was reportedly launched into space by Russia — and in turn has launched speculation about what the Kremlin could be pursuing.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has been following the puzzling object’s maneuvers under the designation 39765.
Little is known about the object other than the fact it was part of a Russian rocket launch in May that sent three satellites to join a military constellation and was originally classified as space debris, according to the Financial Times, which first reported the story.
Experts have weighed in, saying the piece could be anything from space junk to the revival of a satellite destroyer program.
“I have no idea what it is!” Patricia Lewis, a space security expert at the think-tank Chatham House told The Washington Post.
However, if it is indeed a revival of Russia’s anti-satellite weaponry program, Lewis told the newspaper it could have huge repercussions if used.
“Imagine if you were having a Katrina episode and all of your satellites suddenly got jammed,” she said.
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