Latest news with #SJ-21
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First Post
09-07-2025
- Science
- First Post
China attempts unique feat in space, its 2 satellites try orbital refuelling at over 35,000 km altitude
China may have just become the first country to attempt satellite-to-satellite refuelling in geosynchronous orbit read more China appears to be on the verge of accomplishing a groundbreaking manoeuvre in space by attempting an orbital refuelling operation at geosynchronous altitude, some 35,786 kilometres above the Earth. According to reports, satellite movement suggested that the Chinese satellites Shijian-21 (SJ-21) and Shijian-25 (SJ-25) have recently docked in orbit, an event that may mark the first attempt at satellite-to-satellite refuelling at such an altitude. This development, although not confirmed by official Chinese sources, has sparked considerable interest and concern within the international space and defence communities. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to open-source satellite trackers and optical imagery shared by firms like s2a systems and COMSPOC, SJ-21 and SJ-25 approached each other multiple times between June 13 and June 30, with the final rendezvous seemingly occurring on July 2. The two satellites have remained together ever since leading observers to believe that docking, and possibly refuelling, has occurred, Ars Technica reported. A dual-use technology with strategic implications Though the Chinese government has offered little recent commentary, earlier disclosures provide some insight. The Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST), which developed both satellites, stated that SJ-25 was designed for 'the verification of satellite fuel replenishment and life extension service technologies'. Meanwhile, SJ-21, launched in 2021, had previously demonstrated its ability to capture and tow a defunct Beidou navigation satellite to a graveyard orbit, an operation officially described as a space debris mitigation test, reported. However, experts believe that there is more at stake than orbital cleanliness. Technologies capable of docking, manoeuvring and potentially refuelling satellites are considered 'dual-use,' suitable for both peaceful applications and military strategies. As former US Space Force Lt Gen John Shaw pointed out, these capabilities could eventually enable one satellite to intercept, inspect or even disable another nation's satellite without causing destructive debris, an article in Ars Technica said. Shaw emphasised that dynamic space operations, essentially the ability to move, inspect and refuel satellites, are a growing priority for the US military. However, he expressed concern that China might be leading the race, especially if the SJ-25 has successfully delivered fuel to the presumably depleted SJ-21. Importance of geosynchronous orbit Geosynchronous orbit (GEO) holds particular strategic importance for both military and commercial satellite operations. At this altitude, satellites remain fixed over a single point on Earth, making them ideal for tasks like secure military communications and early missile detection. Given the sensitivity and value of assets stationed in GEO, any operations involving close approaches or docking manoeuvres naturally attract scrutiny. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Because of this, the United States deployed two of its GSSAP (Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Programme) satellites—USA 270 and USA 271—to observe the Chinese activity. These satellites are designed to manoeuvre around GEO and inspect objects up close. However, as Shaw noted, their range is limited by fuel constraints, which is precisely why refuelling capabilities in space are being so closely watched, the South China Morning Post reported. Technical challenges and capabilities Refuelling in orbit, especially without human involvement, is an extraordinarily complex process. Unlike refuelling operations on space stations like the ISS or China's Tiangong, which benefit from human oversight, satellite-to-satellite refuelling must be performed autonomously. According to a 2022 paper in Aerospace Systems, challenges include precise docking, fuel transfer in microgravity and the risk of propellant boil-off. Once two spacecraft are docked, the servicing satellite, in this case SJ-25, would need to latch onto the target, likely with a robotic arm, remove protective coverings and initiate fluid transfer via pressurised systems. Propellants such as hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide, commonly used in satellite thrusters, must be handled with extreme care due to their volatile nature. a report in the South China Morning Post said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Watching the watchers While China's demonstration is notable, it also reveals the escalating game of orbital chess now playing out above Earth. The US Space Force's inspector satellites were not the only watchers. China's own operators have become adept at evading surveillance. Shaw observed that Chinese satellites have been known to manoeuvre away when approached by GSSAP satellites, exploiting their predictable and limited movement patterns. If China succeeds in enabling its satellites to refuel at will, its capacity for dynamic space operations could outpace the US, diminishing the surveillance effectiveness of American assets like GSSAP. As Shaw remarked, 'the marginal cost of those maneuvers for them becomes even lower, and the challenge for GSSAP becomes even greater,' the Ars Technica said quoting the former military official. Global precedents and comparisons While this is potentially a first for high-orbit refuelling, it is not humanity's first venture into on-orbit servicing. In low Earth orbit, DARPA's Orbital Express mission in 2007 demonstrated autonomous docking and fuel transfer between two satellites. In geosynchronous orbit, Northrop Grumman's Mission Extension Vehicles (MEV-1 and MEV-2) successfully docked with ageing commercial satellites to extend their operational lifetimes, though without actually transferring propellant, said. Japan's Astroscale is also entering the arena, planning to demonstrate fluid-based refuelling in the coming year. Nasa, meanwhile, has been preparing its own high-profile OSAM-1 mission (On-orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing), previously known as Restore-L, to refuel government satellites in low orbit. However, none of these missions—past or planned—has matched China's current feat in terms of orbital altitude, complexity or autonomy. India's position in on-orbit servicing India, while a growing space power with a track record of cost-effective innovation, currently lags behind in the niche domain of on-orbit satellite servicing and refuelling, especially at high altitudes like geosynchronous orbit. The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has yet to announce or demonstrate capabilities akin to China's Shijian-21 and Shijian-25 missions or the US's Northrop Grumman's Mission Extension Vehicles. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Isro has focussed heavily on Earth observation, communication satellites, planetary exploration and lunar missions such as Chandrayaan-3. India may eventually step into satellite servicing, given the growing importance of space sustainability and the potential for public-private partnerships in the sector. For now, India is more likely to observe global developments closely and build the requisite infrastructure before attempting such complex, autonomous operations in high Earth orbit. Unanswered questions and next steps Despite the numerous data points from commercial trackers like COMSPOC and optical firms such as S2A Systems, significant uncertainty remains. Joe Callaro, COMSPOC's operations lead, emphasised the limitations of visual tracking when two satellites become 'one pixel' in telescope imagery. RF and radar data help improve confidence, but they don't replace direct confirmation, according to Ars Technica. If confirmed, the success of this high-orbit refuelling test may signal a paradigm shift in how space operations are conducted both commercially and militarily. The ability to refuel satellites in geosynchronous orbit could dramatically extend their operational lives, reduce costs and enhance responsiveness to emerging threats. At the same time, it also highlights the need for transparency and dialogue in space affairs. With multiple nations now capable of sophisticated satellite servicing and, potentially, disruption, international norms and safeguards may be more urgent than ever.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Opinion - War in space — the China challenge
Border security is national security, but America's borders are more expansive than the Rio Grande, ocean coasts or the frontier with Canada. In today's world, protecting our borders demands that we fully secure American interests in space. Achieving that goal demands investments to build a balanced Space Force capable of deterring aggressors and, if necessary, defeating them. Whether they realize it or not, every American has a stake in how the Space Force performs and succeeds. Our nation's prosperity depends on assured use of space. Financial transactions, critical utilities like water and power, the navigation built into phones, broadband internet on the go, and many more key facets of daily life depend on satellites. Nor can our nation be safe and secure without fail-safe access to space and the freedom to operate there. U.S. and allied militaries rely on space for communications, remote sensing, early detection of missile launches, weapons guidance and more. Space is the ultimate high ground and the stakes are immense. Today's U.S. Space Force was initially designed and resourced to 'protect and defend' these critical space capabilities. In the five years since activation, America's Space Force has delivered resilient satellite constellations that are hardened against attack, employed cutting edge technology from our defense industrial base like the X-37 spaceplane, and made prudent investments to avoid surprise from our adversaries. Those investments are paying off, but the Chinese Communist Party is already adapting. The threat they pose is real. I watch outer space for a living. My job with the U.S. Space Force is to ensure we avoid surprise, and that work is only getting harder as space becomes more crowded and adversarial. Today, space is a war fighting domain because our adversaries have made it so. China's leader, General Secretary Xi Jinping has made space a priority and his Chinese PLA aerospace force is actively conducting 'confrontational training' that sends an unmistakable signal. Last year, for example, China's military practiced advanced tactical maneuvers that brought their satellites within a few meters of other Chinese satellites serving as targets. They repeated the maneuver with simultaneous passes on multiple targets. In 2021, the SJ-21 'orbital debris removal' vehicle grappled a defunct non-cooperative Chinese satellite and dragged it to a graveyard orbit. This is exactly the kind of technology needed to attack our satellites such as those monitoring severe weather, providing persistent communications, or warning of missile launches. These close proximity operations conducted with little transparency also risk collisions in the increasingly crowded space environment. These operations demonstrate advanced orbital proficiency and are in addition to previously fielded ground-based missiles and lasers designed to attack satellites. We cannot ignore these developments for many reasons. History, for one, offers lessons. In the 1930s, Germany developed innovative blitzkrieg tactics to exploit cutting edge technologies like armored vehicles and warplanes to penetrate, overfly, and outmaneuver fixed fortifications. Imperial Japan perfected techniques to launch lightning carrier raids across the Pacific. Today we are watching the PLA develop the skills needed for offensive operations in the space domain. America's assured use of space is at risk unless we evolve from a reactive 'protect and defend' posture to instead build a Space Force capable of maneuvering and fighting in space. Border fences may slow down an aggressor, but history shows that defenders need their own maneuver forces to deter attack in the first place, counterattack, and if necessary, take the fight to the enemy. Peace through strength matters on Earth, and it also matters in space. The U.S. and especially the Space Force must meet this challenge — it's about deterrence. Just like our capabilities in the air, land, and sea, a strong presence in space discourages adversaries from attacking in the first place. We must protect our frontier in space with the same diligence and determination that we are directing to borders closer to home. This requires investment in a balanced Space Force capable of a full range of operations. Maj. Gen. Gregory Gagnon is the Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Intelligence and serves as the Senior Intelligence Officer for the U.S. Space Force. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
28-03-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
War in space — the China challenge
Border security is national security, but America's borders are more expansive than the Rio Grande, ocean coasts or the frontier with Canada. In today's world, protecting our borders demands that we fully secure American interests in space. Achieving that goal demands investments to build a balanced Space Force capable of deterring aggressors and, if necessary, defeating them. Whether they realize it or not, every American has a stake in how the Space Force performs and succeeds. Our nation's prosperity depends on assured use of space. Financial transactions, critical utilities like water and power, the navigation built into phones, broadband internet on the go, and many more key facets of daily life depend on satellites. Nor can our nation be safe and secure without fail-safe access to space and the freedom to operate there. U.S. and allied militaries rely on space for communications, remote sensing, early detection of missile launches, weapons guidance and more. Space is the ultimate high ground and the stakes are immense. Today's U.S. Space Force was initially designed and resourced to 'protect and defend' these critical space capabilities. In the five years since activation, America's Space Force has delivered resilient satellite constellations that are hardened against attack, employed cutting edge technology from our defense industrial base like the X-37 spaceplane, and made prudent investments to avoid surprise from our adversaries. Those investments are paying off, but the Chinese Communist Party is already adapting. The threat they pose is real. I watch outer space for a living. My job with the U.S. Space Force is to ensure we avoid surprise, and that work is only getting harder as space becomes more crowded and adversarial. Today, space is a war fighting domain because our adversaries have made it so. China's leader, General Secretary Xi Jinping has made space a priority and his Chinese PLA aerospace force is actively conducting 'confrontational training' that sends an unmistakable signal. Last year, for example, China's military practiced advanced tactical maneuvers that brought their satellites within a few meters of other Chinese satellites serving as targets. They repeated the maneuver with simultaneous passes on multiple targets. In 2021, the SJ-21 'orbital debris removal' vehicle grappled a defunct non-cooperative Chinese satellite and dragged it to a graveyard orbit. This is exactly the kind of technology needed to attack our satellites such as those monitoring severe weather, providing persistent communications, or warning of missile launches. These close proximity operations conducted with little transparency also risk collisions in the increasingly crowded space environment. These operations demonstrate advanced orbital proficiency and are in addition to previously fielded ground-based missiles and lasers designed to attack satellites. We cannot ignore these developments for many reasons. History, for one, offers lessons. In the 1930s, Germany developed innovative blitzkrieg tactics to exploit cutting edge technologies like armored vehicles and warplanes to penetrate, overfly, and outmaneuver fixed fortifications. Imperial Japan perfected techniques to launch lightning carrier raids across the Pacific. Today we are watching the PLA develop the skills needed for offensive operations in the space domain. America's assured use of space is at risk unless we evolve from a reactive 'protect and defend' posture to instead build a Space Force capable of maneuvering and fighting in space. Border fences may slow down an aggressor, but history shows that defenders need their own maneuver forces to deter attack in the first place, counterattack, and if necessary, take the fight to the enemy. Peace through strength matters on Earth, and it also matters in space. The U.S. and especially the Space Force must meet this challenge — it's about deterrence. Just like our capabilities in the air, land, and sea, a strong presence in space discourages adversaries from attacking in the first place. We must protect our frontier in space with the same diligence and determination that we are directing to borders closer to home. This requires investment in a balanced Space Force capable of a full range of operations.
