China demonstrates satellite refueling 20,000 miles on Earth: Report
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China’s Space Program has taken two major steps in the past week That satellite It appears to be docked together with what may have been the country’s first advanced attempt to refuel satellites in orbit.
According to the news outlet, the Sizian-21 and Sizian-25 satellites appeared to dock each other on planets more than 20,000 miles above Earth’s orbit orbit last week. Ars Technica.
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Chinese officials have not recently released updates on the two satellites, but civilian satellite trackers have shown that Sizian-21 and Sizian-25 are approaching before they become indistinguishable from each other, Ars Technica reported.
On October 24, 2021, a long March carrier rocket carrying the Sijian-21 satellite will explode from the Xichang satellite launch center in Liang Xian Yi Autonomous County, Sichuan Province, China. (via Li Jieyi/VCG Getty Images)
these Two satellites Docking into the Geosynchronous Orbit could indicate that China could potentially disable satellites from other countries in space, Ars Technica reported.
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However, the US Space Force is also interested in orbital refueling. Military Satellite In many cases, fuel supply is limited. The military division is expected to refuel its first on-orbit US military assets as early as next summer.
According to Ars Techinica, American officials may have warned of apparent docking by China last week as two members of Space Force inspector satellites appeared to be approaching Sizian-21 and Sizian-25.
On January 7th, 2025, a long March rocket carrying the test satellite, Sijian-25, exploded from the Xichang satellite launch centre in Sichuan Province, southwestern China. (du Xinxin/Xinhua via Getty Images)
According to ARS Technica, the geographically closed orbit, located at an altitude of approximately 22,236 miles, is popular among military and commercial satellites, meaning it can provide the military with information such as early warnings of missile attacks.
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In April, Space Force Chance Salzman described the explosive advances in China’s universe as “swaying the heart,” Warned the US It is on the path of losing control on the orbit.
A photo illustration of the satellite is depicted here. (istock)
Saltzman said he testified before the bipartisan US China Commission. China They “invest heavily in both ground-based and space-based weapons designed to negate enemy satellites.
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China also claims it has increased military spending by 7% this year, stockpiling anti-sanitary missiles and owning directional energy weapons that jam concentrated energy beams. Satellite signal.
The US Space Force and NASA did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.