2 Chinese spacecraft just met up 22,000 miles above Earth. What were they doing?
“Optical tracking by the space situational awareness firm s2a systems shows a close approach between the two on June 14, with the pair, at times, virtually unresolvable from the other. This suggests that Shijian-21 and Shijian-25 made at least a test-run close approach and may have even performed a docking and undocking test.”
“The test aims to demonstrate on-orbit refueling and mission extension capabilities, helping to improve the sustainability of space operations.”
“Shijian-25 launched in January to demonstrate on-orbit refueling and satellite servicing, while Shijian-21 launched in 2021 and towed a dead satellite out of geosynchronous orbit and into a higher, ‘graveyard’ orbit.”