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A Chinese satellite pulled a defunct navigation satellite out of the method of other satellites on January 22nd. The satellite, called SJ-21, appeared to run as an area pull when it grappled onto the navigation satellite from the Chinese CompassG2 network. Earths geosynchronous orbit is crowded, so on the face of it, having one less piece of area debris is a good thing for all satellite operators. In November, it drew in attention when the US Space Forces 18th Space Control Squadron watched as the satellite orbited alongside another item. Usually, a rocket puts a satellite into a transfer orbit, and an apogee kick motor on the satellite itself offers the last thrust to bring the satellite into geostationary orbit.
Earths geosynchronous orbit is crowded, so on the face of it, having one less piece of area particles is a good idea for all satellite operators. But individuals can get suspicious when China does something like this. Is suspicion necessitated?
The details of the operation remain in a report from ExoAnalytic Solutions. They presented them in a webinar hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the Secure World Foundation (SWF.) Brian Flewelling from ExoAnalytic presented the report.
ExoAnalytic Solutions runs and owns over 30 observatories and over 300 telescopes worldwide. The business says they keep an eye on the complete 360 degrees of the GEO belt and the graveyard region. Their Global Telescope Network is the worlds biggest network of optical telescopes. According to the companys website, they provide “… common, automated, real-time space domain awareness for space superiority.”
This is one of the ExoAnalytic Solutions observing facilities. The business has over 30 observatories and more than 300 telescopes worldwide. Image Credit: ExoAnalytic Solutions.
Heres what happened, according to ExoAnalytic Solutions.
Before that, it carried out close proximity operations with the defunct CompassG2 satellite, moving closer and more detailed. ExoAnalytics reacquired SJ21 after it pulled the inoperative satellite out of geosynchronous orbit.
This video from ExoAnalytic Solutions explains their observations.
Northrop-Grumman made an advertising video of their MEV-1 satellite.
Many area agencies are putting more resources into area debris mitigation. Perhaps SJ-21 is purely an organization endeavor, and China is keeping their cards close to their chest to protect any hoped-for economic benefit.
Why so tight-lipped, China?
Perhaps theyre just following Sun-Tzus suggestions when he said, “Let your plans be impenetrable and dark as night …”.
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The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) operates JS-21 (Shijian-21), however they have not been extremely open about the satellites operations and abilities. They launched the satellite on October 24th, and Chinas Xinhua news agency stated, “The satellite will be generally used to test and confirm space debris mitigation technologies.”
Area particles is a growing problem, so any efforts to reduce it are welcome. China is tight-lipped about it. Compare their lack of details with other countries area particles mitigation efforts.
The ESA has a comprehensive web existence detailing its continuous efforts to handle area particles. Specific posts describe using drag sails to deorbit dead satellites, graphics explain the problem, and interviews with professionals flesh out the entire issue. NASA is similar. The Canadian Space Agency also practices openness, especially when their a piece of area particles struck the Canadarm2 robotic arm in April 2021.
The Canadarm2, the Canadian-made robotic arm used on the International Space Station, suffered “restricted” damage after it was hit by space debris in 2021. (NASA/Canadian Space Agency).
The United Nations Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines apply to all UN member states, including China. It can be challenging for citizens of western democracies to comprehend why China would be so secretive about something as harmless as space debris mitigation. However China practices secrecy and obfuscation as a matter of course.
What do SJ-21s operations indicate?
In November, it attracted attention when the United States Space Forces 18th Space Control Squadron enjoyed as the satellite orbited together with another object. Normally, a rocket puts a satellite into a transfer orbit, and an apogee kick motor on the satellite itself offers the last thrust to bring the satellite into geostationary orbit.
China never verified it.
Other space firms are concerned that China might utilize SJ-21 to hinder functional satellites from other nations. Whether thats Chinas intent, the suspicion wont go away.
The US Air Forces China Aerospace Institute is a think tank that analyzes Chinas activities in space. The Institute launched a report in December 2021 focusing on SJ-21. “… one can fairly argue that SJ-21 is most likely going to be Chinas second On-Orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (OSAM) practice-series satellite (Shijian) in GEO,” the report states.”.
” One could also fairly expect SJ-21 to advance work China has actually already done in lower orbits to practice rendezvous and proximity operations (RPOs) and the use of a robotic arm,” the report says. “This time, China may practice using numerous arms, a various type of particles mitigation innovation such as that required for refuelling ordeorbiting, or a mix of those, based on Chinese scholastic publications …”.
The report also states that “Chinas activities in OSAM have actually not been analyzed thorough to date.”.
China is framing SJ-21 as part of their On-Orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (OSAM) operations. Is there something more to it?
In a post at Breaking Defense, Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, pointed out something uncommon in SJ-21s activities. McDowell said that the satellites orbit “… is extremely elliptical, varying from 36,076 km in altitude to 38,886 km.”.
Satellites are moved into the graveyard orbit when its easier to improve them into that orbit than to deorbit them. Satellites can remain in the graveyard orbit for millions of years.
In order to remove accident threat, GEO satellites must be vacated the geostationary ring at the end of their objective. Their orbit needs to be raised by about 300 km, according to the ESA, which is thought about a safe distance to avoid future interference with active GEO spacecraft. Image Credit: ESA.
” Usually, GEO graveyard raising is done more symmetrically,” McDowell discussed in the Breaking Defense post.
ExoAnalytic Solutions reported that SJ-21 is now back in a geosynchronous orbit. So was this a harmless debris mitigation maneuver? If it was, why hasnt China said so? Do they like keeping other nations in the dark, simply in case? Is something possibly ominous going on? Asking these concerns isnt to welcome conspiracy theories. This is worldwide politics.
China isnt the only one to establish and employ satellites like this. The Northrop-Grumman business developed their MEV-1 (Mission Extension Vehicle 1) satellite to help mitigate area debris. Could SJ-21 be a precursor to offensive satellite operations?
A Chinese satellite pulled a defunct navigation satellite out of the method of other satellites on January 22nd. The satellite, called SJ-21, appeared to operate as an area pull when it grappled onto the navigation satellite from the Chinese CompassG2 network. The operation information didnt come from Chinese authorities but a report by ExoAnalytic Solutions, an industrial space monitoring business.
Chinese authorities are tight-lipped about the operation, but what can observations tell us about Chinese abilities?
