Russian satellite tied to nuke program appears out of control, analysts say

The U.S. has flagged a secretive Russian satellite, Cosmos 2553, as showing erratic spinning behavior, raising concerns about its functionality and raising questions about Russia's nuclear anti-satellite weapons program. The satellite, launched in 2022 before the invasion of Ukraine, has exhibited abnormal spinning patterns tracked by space firms LeoLabs and Slingshot Aerospace over the past year. Its primary uses were as a radar satellite for intelligence and a radiation testing platform, but U.S. officials have linked its malfunction to potential advanced nuclear capabilities, complicating Russia's public displays of space defense technology.