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A comment on When a Telescope Is a National-Security Risk. Parent comment

Re:When a Telescope Is a National-Security Risk by uticus on Monday December 02, 2024 @09:42PM (#42302633)
> Orbits are exactly regular, by definition. Orbital parameter changes do happen but are rare.

How does that match up with [0]?

"... a satellite that stalks other satellites, started another relocation move on July 22, leaving its position near ASTRA 4A at longitude 4.8 E and drifting west at 0.9 degrees per day."

Do they make this up, or do you and I have a vastly different understanding of "irregular"?

[0] https://sattrackcam.blogspot.com/2024/07/the-russian-sigint-...

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Re:When a Telescope Is a National-Security Risk by BenjiWiebe on Monday December 02, 2024 @10:31PM (#42302853)
That is interesting. I wonder how many stalking maneuvers it can do before it depletes it's propellant/reaction mass.
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Re:When a Telescope Is a National-Security Risk by nradov on Monday December 02, 2024 @10:30PM (#42302845)
It's not made up. The satellite made some minor orbital parameter changes but at all times it was in a regular orbit. It wasn't making irregular course changes in the way that an airplane might.
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