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China Has Attempted What Might Be the First-Ever Orbital Refueling of a Satellite

Stephen Clark, Ars Technica

created: July 9, 2025, 11:30 a.m. | updated: July 21, 2025, 9:50 a.m.

China’s Shijian-21 and Shijian-25 satellites, known as SJ-21 and SJ-25 for short, likely docked together in geosynchronous orbit sometime last week. For example, a docking in geosynchronous orbit could foretell an emerging capability for China to approach, capture, and disable another country’s satellite. The Space Force sometimes calls this concept dynamic space operations. China appears to be poised to beat the US Space Force to the punch. As other countries, mainly China, step up their clandestine activities in orbit, military officials are asking more of the GSSAP satellites.

2 weeks ago: Science Latest