China's Shijian-25 Docks With Shijian-21 to Test Refueling, Curbing Space Junk Risk
Updated
Updated · Astronomy Magazine · Nov 9
China's Shijian-25 Docks With Shijian-21 to Test Refueling, Curbing Space Junk Risk
1 articles · Updated · Astronomy Magazine · Nov 9
Summary
Shijian-25 launched in 2025 and docked with fuel-depleted Shijian-21 in a test aimed at refueling the older satellite and extending its service life.
The maneuver is notable because keeping Shijian-21 operational could stop it from becoming another piece of orbital debris in increasingly crowded Earth orbits.
Shijian-21 had already shown debris-mitigation capability in 2022, when it towed the defunct Beidou-2 G2 satellite 3,000 km above geostationary orbit into a graveyard orbit.
U.S. Space Force officials treated the new docking as a priority-watch event, reflecting concern that on-orbit servicing and rendezvous technology can also carry military applications.
The test comes as experts warn collision risk in low Earth orbit is rising sharply, with megaconstellations and legacy debris pushing space traffic closer to a Kessler-syndrome tipping point.
Are thousands of daily automated dodges by Starlink preventing an orbital crisis, or merely delaying an inevitable collision cascade?
If an untracked fragment cripples a vital satellite today, who legally pays for the ensuing orbital disaster?
Could climate change and mega-constellations trigger a catastrophic chain reaction that traps humanity on Earth forever?
China’s Historic 2025 Geostationary Satellite Refueling: Dual-Use Risks and the Future of Space Power
Overview
In July 2025, China made history by launching the SJ-25 servicing spacecraft to refuel the aging SJ-21 satellite in geostationary orbit, using advanced autonomous navigation and robotic arms. This operation, tracked by global surveillance networks due to a lack of official Chinese confirmation, demonstrated direct propellant transfer and enabled SJ-21 to perform a record-breaking maneuver. The breakthrough raised international concerns about dual-use technology, as the same skills for satellite servicing could be used for military counterspace actions. With no clear international rules for such close-orbit operations, the event highlighted growing risks of misinterpretation and escalation in space.