Author: Brett Tingley, Managing Editor, Space.com

“We are now, with our allies, conducting advanced orbital operations to protect and defend our shared national and military interests in space.”

In a first-of-its kind operation, the United States repositioned one of its spacecraft to inspect an ally’s satellite.

U.S. Space Command maneuvered one of its spacecraft in order to examine the Skynet 5A military communications satellite operated by the United Kingdom and assure the U.K. that it was operating in orbit as intended. The maneuver took place between Sept. 4 and Sept. 12 at an altitude of 22,236 miles (35,786 kilometers) in geostationary orbit, where satellites remain above a fixed spot on Earth. Both spacecraft were traveling 6,835 mph (11,000 km/h) during the operation, according to a statement from the Royal Air Force (RAF).

While the operation was peaceful in nature and conducted between allies of Multinational Force-Operation Olympic Defender (a space security coalition including the U.S., Canada, the U.K, France, Germany, New Zealand and Australia), it also demonstrates that the U.S. military is capable of maneuvering close to other nations’ satellites if need be.

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Also available: The U.S. Space Force information release regarding this maneuver at this direct link…