This past week, China’s space program made a significant leap forward when two of its satellites appeared to dock together in what could be the country’s first attempt at refueling a satellite while in high-altitude orbit.
The Shijian-21 and Shijian-25 satellites were seen docking with each other above 20,000 miles in geosynchronous orbit, where a satellite’s orbital period aligns with Earth’s rotation, according to Ars Technica.
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While Chinese officials have not released updates about the satellites, civilian satellite trackers observed Shijian-21 and Shijian-25 drawing closer before becoming indistinguishable from each other, Ars Technica reported.
These two satellites docking in geosynchronous orbit suggest that China may have the capability to disable another country’s satellite in space.
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However, the U.S. Space Force is similarly interested in orbital refueling, as military satellites often have limited fuel supplies. The branch is expected to conduct its first-ever refueling of a U.S. military asset in orbit as early as next summer.
American officials may have taken note of China’s maneuver, as two of the Space Force’s inspector satellites were seen moving closer to Shijian-21 and Shijian-25 last week, according to Ars Technica.
A Long March-3B rocket carrying a test satellite, Shijian-25, blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Jan. 7, 2025. (Du Xinxin/Xinhua via Getty Images)
Geosynchronous orbit, approximately 22,236 miles in altitude, is a preferred orbit for military and commercial satellites, providing a constant view of Earth for military intelligence, such as early warnings of missile attacks.
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In April, Space Force Gen. Chance Saltzman described China’s explosive advances in space as “mind-boggling” and warned the U.S. is on a path to losing its dominance in orbit.
A photo illustration of a satellite is pictured here. (iStock)
Testifying before the bipartisan U.S.-China Commission, Saltzman stated that China is “heavily investing” in ground-based and space-based weapons aimed at disabling enemy satellites, including kinetic strikes, radio-frequency jamming, and directed energy weapons.
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China also increased its military spending by 7% this year, stockpiling anti-satellite missiles and claiming ownership of directed energy weapons capable of jamming satellite signals.
The U.S. Space Force and NASA did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
