Two Chinese spacecraft, Shijian-21 and Shijian-25, recently met in geostationary orbit about 22,236 miles (35,786 kilometers) above Earth’s equator. The satellites were seen making a close approach on June 14, 2025, according to space situational awareness company s2a systems. At times, the two spacecraft were so close they were nearly indistinguishable from each other.
The goal of the mission was to show on-orbit refueling and satellite servicing abilities. These capabilities are important for making satellites last longer and space operations more sustainable. Shijian-25 was launched in January 2025 specifically to test these technologies.
Shijian satellites demonstrate refueling capability
Shijian-21, launched in October 2021, had already shown promise by towing a dead satellite into a higher “graveyard” orbit. The Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST), a state-owned company in China, developed both spacecraft.
During the demonstration, U.S. surveillance satellites USA 270 and USA 271 were reported to be nearby, likely watching the activities of the Chinese satellites. This event is a major step forward in satellite maintenance and space sustainability. The U.S. has also made progress in this area with Northrop Grumman’s Mission Extension Vehicles, which have shown they can extend the life of satellites in geosynchronous orbit.
As China continues to improve its space capabilities, missions like this show how important new solutions are for maintaining and extending the life of satellites in orbit. This helps with the larger goals of space sustainability and managing space traffic efficiently.
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