27 Jan – 5 Feb: Per reporting from the Joint Capabilities Office (JCO), between 27 Jan – 5 Feb, Russia’s Luch/Olymp 2 (55841) and Intelsat 1002 (28358) were operating in close proximity. At first glance I assumed this was just another case of Luch doing typical Luch things. I was wrong. From 27-31 January, Luch/Olymp 2 does not appear to maneuver, while Intelsat 1002 did conduct several minor altitude adjustments. According to TLE data on 29 Jan the two satellites were <1km apart. Interestingly, Intelsat 1002 (which is docked with the Mission Extension Vehicle-2 <46113>) had highly favorable lighting conditions for imaging Luch/Olymp 2. MEV-2 is known to have imaging capabilities. Other points of closest approach (POCAs) during this time were between 3-10kms with lighting conditions favorable for Luch/Olymp 2 to image Intelsat 1002. On 6 Feb Luch/Olymp 2 began a series of altitude increases and as of 21 Feb, it was orbiting ~261km below the GEO belt and drifting eastward 3.25° per day and the two satellites were over 30,000km apart.
- During this time period Luch/Olymp 2 conducted no detectable maneuvers. For its part Intelsat 1002 did conduct several minor altitude maneuvers, all less than 1km. Maneuvers on 28 January placed Intelsat 1002 onto a trajectory which resulted in the <1km POCA with Luch/Olymp 2 on 29 January. Per Spacecockpit data the distance between the two objects at point of closest approach (POCA) was ~100-200m.
- Examining the Solar Phase Angle (SPA) values during each POCA provided interesting results. The 29 Jan <1km POCA occurred with optimal SPA for Intelsat 1002 to image Luch/Olymp 2 (SPA 152° placing the sun behind Intelsat 1002 and illuminating Luch/Olymp 2.)
- For all other POCAs during this time period, the SPA was favorable for Luch/Olymp 2 to image Intelsat 1002. It is unknown if Luch/Olymp 2 has any imaging capability.
- Intelsat 1002 does have an imaging capability as it has been connected to the Northrup Grumman Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV)-2 since April 2021. MEV-2 is currently clamped to the back of Intelsat 1002, serving as the satellite’s life support by providing renewed power and navigation control. The two will operate as a “combined stack” until at least 2026.
- MEV-2 is equipped with two imaging sensors, an infrared wide field of view camera and a visible narrow field of view camera. MEV-2 was able to image Intelsat 1002 as the two satellites docked in 2021. Unknown if the cameras remain operational when the MEV-2 is docked with another satellite.
Date, time, solar phase angle and maneuver summary for Luch/Olymp 2 and Intelsat 1002 points of closest approach.
29 Jan 2025 point of closest approach: Intelsat 1002 and Luch/Olymp 2 were separated by approximately 112 m, with favorable lighting for Intelsat/MEV-2 to image Luch/Olymp 2 (saberastro.com).
No detectable Luch/Olymp 2 maneuvers from 26-31 Jan 2025 (celestrak.org).
Minor altitude adjustments by Intelsat 1002 from 26-31 Jan 2025 (celestrak.org).
Image of Intelsat 10-02 taken by MEV-2's infrared wide-field-of-view camera from approximately 15 m away (spacenews.com).
