CASC - Shijian-21 satellite (SJ-21) Mission patch.
Jan 30, 2022
The US and European nations have worked on developing similar satellite capabilities
China reportedly displayed another alarming leap in space-based technology and capabilities this week after an analytics firm claimed to observe a satellite "grab" another and pull it from its orbit.
China’s Shijian-21 satellite, or SJ-21, disappeared from its regular position and reappeared while making a "large maneuver" to move closer to a dead BeiDou Navigation System satellite. The SJ-21 then pulled the BeiDou out of its orbit and placed it a few hundred miles away in a "graveyard orbit" where it is unlikely to interfere or collide with active satellites.
BeiDou Navigation System satellite, Long March-3B, Shijian-21 mission patch
Chinese state media said the SJ-21 was designed to "test and verify space debris mitigation technologies," but the potential to move satellites around presents terrifying capabilities for orbital manipulation of satellites belonging to other nations.
Brian Flewelling, chief architect for space situational awareness (SSA) at ExoAnalytic Solutions, presented footage of the event during a webinar hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies and Secure World Foundation.
"We continue to track SJ-21 and monitor it for conjunctions with all known space objects. The ability to maintain custody of SJ-21 after this large daytime maneuver is an important and unique capability of Exo’s commercial SSA network," Flewelling said in the video.
The maneuver is part of On-Orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing (OSAM) capabilities, which the U.S. and European nations have also pursued, according to Breaking Defense.
ESA's Clean Space Concept
Such operations would fall under Space Command’s operations, specifically as a possible factor in future Artemis program launches, according to Aerospace America.
"Artemis is about more than getting back to the moon; it’s about sustained human presence on the moon and the ultimate goal of going to Mars," said Larry Huebner, NASA technical lead for OSAM-2.
An OSAM-capable vehicle may eventually come equipped with a 3D printing device to manufacture new pieces to produce in space, giving way to incredible capabilities for what space vehicles can accomplish.
The U.S. plans to launch a "servicer" satellite in 2025, but China’s display might cause Space Command to step up development.
Neither the Pentagon nor Space Command responded to a Fox News request for comment by the time of publication.
Editor's note:
To de-dramatize this article somewhat, I do not believe that the Chinese's first intention is to use this technology to (in naval terms) carry out an act of piracy on the satellites of other nations, either to board them and scuttle (sink) by deorbiting them. I rather think (this is my opinion) that it is rather in a spirit of competition (space race) in order to equal or surpass Western technologies. Moreover, if it is to clean up the space, I don't see any inconvenience given that the situation is alarming on this point.
Related article:
CASC - Long March-3B launches Shijian-21
https://orbiterchspacenews.blogspot.com/2021/10/casc-long-march-3b-launches-shijian-21.html
Related links:
ExoAnalytic Solutions: https://exoanalytic.com/space-domain-awareness/
Breaking Defense: https://breakingdefense.com/2022/01/chinas-sj-21-tugs-dead-satellite-out-of-geo-belt-trackers/
Aerospace America: https://aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/features/building-for-space-in-space/
Image, Animation, Text, Credits: FoxNews/Peter Aitken/ESA/Orbiter.ch Aerospace/Roland Berga.
Best regards, Orbiter.ch
