News has surfaced in recent months of strange orbiting space debris that may be a threat looming in Earth's outer atmosphere. Specifically, the concern is about a satellite that entered space in May, 2014, after being launched into space by a Russian Rokot-Briz. It was known that the launch sent three Russian military communication satellites into orbit but a fourth object was thought to be just a piece of space debris. However, since the 'debris' has moved to different orbits and performed other maneuvers, it is no longer believed to be just debris.
The object has a few different names: 2014-28E, Cosmos 2499 and NORAD object 39765. The potential threat from the object is due to the fact that no one knows its intentions. Russia has revealed so little about its existence. The only confirmed information from Russia is that in May they did launch four spacecraft into orbit. So, it is definitely a spacecraft and not debris according to the Russians.
The former Soviet Union had an anti-satellite weaponry program named " Isrebitel Sputnikov" or, more simply, the "Satellite KIller". This was an ambitious Cold War program that was thought to have been retired following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Experts are theorizing that 2014-28E might be the Russian resurrection of this project.
If the theory is true, this technology could have many applications: from repairing malfunctioning spacecraft, spying on satellites, intercepting communications to destroying or disabling them. The use of the technology as a weapon is what has US military concerned. Such developments could re-ignite a space arms race.
However, both the US and China have been testing similar technologies. On July 28th, 2014, the US tested an experimental satellite called ANGELS (Automated Navigation and Guidance Experiment for Local Space).
