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NASA reported that the US and Russian satellites, TIMED and Cosmos 2221, came close to each other in orbit but managed to avoid a collision.
The US and Russian satellites TIMED and Cosmos 2221 passed within maximum proximity of each other in orbit but avoided a collision.
NASA
The Department of Defense has confirmed that NASA’s TIMED satellite and the Russian Cosmos 2221 satellite passed within a safe distance of each other in orbit on Wednesday, February 28 at approximately 01:34 U.S. East Coast time (08.34 Moscow time). The U.S. satellite, designed to study the sun’s influence on the Earth’s atmosphere, is operational, as confirmed by NASA. NASA did not specify the distance between the two non-maneuvering vehicles at the time of maximum approach.
According to current predictions of their orbital positions, the vehicles will meet in orbit again as their altitudes gradually diverge. Today’s rendezvous will be their closest pass.
NASA reported that the Pentagon is monitoring a potential collision between Russian and U.S. satellites in orbit. The approach occurred at an altitude of about 600 kilometers. Although the collision of TIMED and Cosmos 2221 is unlikely, it could potentially create a large amount of debris.
