China could be about to attempt a landmark satellite refuelling test
satellite-to-satellite refuelling test appears to be imminent after a second round of close-proximity operations between two probes in high orbit on Monday.
The landmark Chinese mission will be one of the most ambitious attempts at autonomous satellite servicing in geostationary orbit, which rival the United States has yet to achieve.
On Monday, the Shijian-21 and
Shijian-25 spacecraft – both orbiting at an altitude of 35,786km (22,236 miles) above the equator – came within extremely close range after days of closing in on each other, according to Swiss space surveillance firm s2a Systems.
The optical tracking image shows the two satellites nearly indistinguishable from each other, suggesting they may be about to attempt docking and potentially even conduct the refuelling and servicing test that is the primary mission of the Shijian-25.
The two satellites had a similar encounter on June 13, when they reportedly came within 1km of each other before separating 90 minutes later. That manoeuvre could have been a rehearsal for docking, or an aborted attempt at docking, according to US-based space situational awareness software company COMSPOC.
11:05
Space race elevates Asia in new world order
Space race elevates Asia in new world order
The Shijian-25 was designed to test 'on-orbit refuelling and satellite life-extension technologies', Chinese state media reported when the probe was launched in January. It said the mission aimed to verify capabilities for maintaining and prolonging the operational lifespan of satellites already in orbit as a way to reduce costs, improve sustainability and to help address growing concerns over space debris.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
4 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
What does the Beidaihe guest list tell us about China's economic priorities?
As China's top leaders enjoy their summer retreat at the northern beach resort of Beihaihe, analysts are poring over the guest list for clues about Beijing's priorities ahead of October's crucial plenary meeting to agree on China's next five-year plan. The list of invitees to the annual gathering , as reported by state media, suggests that China's leaders are placing a heavy emphasis on science, innovation and entrepreneurship, as they seek to accelerate China's development and application of emerging technologies. More than 60 experts received invitations to this year's Beidaihe holiday, including leading scientists in quantum physics, biology, artificial intelligence, materials science and medical research, as well as entrepreneurs from hi-tech industries, according to the state-run news agency Xinhua. Among the participants were structural biologist Yan Ning; top quantum physicist Pan Jianwei; and Xu Binghe, a leading breast cancer expert. The retreat also welcomed Liu Qingfeng, chairman of voice recognition technology pioneer iFlyTek; Wu Yunkun, president of cybersecurity firm Qi An Xin Technology (QAX); and Li Xuelong, chief technology officer at state-owned telecoms giant China Telecom. Also invited were eight fundamental researchers under 40 years of age, with the youngest member of the group – Feng Jiandong, a chemistry professor at Zhejiang University – aged just 33.
South China Morning Post
6 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Apple eyes Douyin Pay for mainland App Store while iPhone 17 ‘leak' stirs online debate
Advertisement Launched in January 2021, Douyin Pay is a service under ByteDance -owned domestic short video platform Douyin, the Chinese sibling of TikTok . Douyin had about 766.5 million monthly active users, according to data published last month by digital marketing agency Sekkei Digital Group. The potential addition of Douyin Pay to the mainland App Store reflects the continued growth of mobile payment services in the world's second-largest economy, where Alipay and WeChat Pay dominate the vast market. ByteDance-owned Douyin had an estimated 766.5 million monthly active users on the mainland. Photo: Shutterstock Meanwhile, supposedly leaked images online of the iPhone 17 have triggered heated discussion on Chinese social media about the alleged new design. Advertisement One image of a presumed iPhone 17 Pro model showed a large horizontal camera 'island' on the back of the handset. That design was initially seen on Casetify's new iPhone 17 cases last week, when the images were mistakenly posted on the company's website. Those images were subsequently removed.
South China Morning Post
7 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Unlike the US, China is not trying to shut out the future
In their op-ed in The New York Times, economists David Autor and Gordon Hanson – whose work first defined the 'China Shock' – warn of a new wave of disruption, one they label 'China Shock 2.0', this time driven not by textiles or toys, but by electric vehicles (EVs), clean energy, artificial intelligence and biotechnology. The fear is that China is no longer merely catching up but is poised to overtake in sectors that once defined Western leadership. Yet the term 'China Shock 2.0' practically begs misinterpretation. Both authors clearly understand this: they speak against the reflexive protectionism that such a framing inspires and posit instead a forward-facing ideal of careful investment and subsidy. It must be stressed that today's changes are not a repeat of past disruptions. They are not about factory closures or lost jobs; they are about the construction of entirely new systems and industries. China is not here as a destabiliser, but as a builder. Today's shift, the China Shock 2.0, is better termed a future shock. And it is led by capital-intensive, hi-tech industries: EVs , solar power, wind turbines, batteries , smart grids and artificial intelligence. These sectors are not driven by low wages but by scale, supply chain integration and a relentless push for innovation driven by a series of world-leading institutions that only seem to be strengthening because of a switch away from state-led subsidies to a greater emphasis on market discipline and research-driven innovation. If the 19th century belonged to steam and the United Kingdom, and the 20th century to silicon and the United States, then the 21st century will belong to those who lead the green transition. China is doing just that. The benefits are being felt worldwide. In 2023 alone, China installed more solar capacity than the entire rest of the world combined: 1.6 times as much. It had nearly double the rest of the world's wind installations and is driving down clean energy costs worldwide. The cost of solar panels has dropped from 24 US cents per watt of capacity in 2023 to just 11 US cents in 2024. China is not so much supporting the green transition as underwriting it.
