Chinese satellite was observed grabbing another satellite and pulling it out of its normal geosynchronous orbit and into a “super-graveyard drift orbit.” The maneuver raises questions about the potential applications of these types of satellites designed to maneuver close to other satellites for inspection or manipulation and adds to growing concerns about China’s space program overall.
The maneuver raises concerns about the potential militarization of satellites designed to inspect, manipulate, or relocate other satellites.
On January 22, China’s Shijian-21 satellite, or SJ-21, disappeared from its regular position in orbit during daylight hours when observations were difficult to make with optical telescopes. SJ-21 was then observed executing a “large maneuver” to bring it closely alongside another satellite, a dead BeiDou Navigation System satellite. SJ-21 then pulled the dead satellite out of its normal geosynchronous orbit and placed it a few hundred miles away in what is known as a graveyard orbit. These distant orbits are designated for defunct satellites at the end of their lives and are intended to reduce the risk of collision with operational assets.
SJ-21’s recent maneuver raises questions and concerns about these types of satellites and their potential for military use. Todd Harrison, director of CSIS’s Aerospace Project, told Breaking Defense that SJ-21’s actions present “more questions than answers,” adding that while we can observe the satellite’s actions, “the intent behind it and what China plans to do with this technology is a more subjective assessment.”
This isn’t the first time SJ-21 has made headlines with its questionable behavior. In November 2021, just a month after its launch, an unknown object was seen orbiting alongside SJ-21. At the time, Space Force designated the unidentified object as a spent apogee kick motor, but it was also reported that it might have been an experimental payload designed to test SJ-21’s ability to perform remote operations and manipulate other satellites.
China launched a satellite called Shijian-21 in Nov. Look at these pictures to see what it can do. 😎 pic.twitter.com/YT7lgpOitA
— 彩云香江 (@louischeung_hk) January 4, 2022
The United States Air Force’s China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI) published a report on Shijian-21 last year shortly after its unknown companion appeared. The report notes that “Even Chinese media, academics, and bloggers agree with Western analysts that remote proximity operation capabilities and robotic arm technologies are dual-use,” meaning they have potential military applications in addition to scientific or utility ones. The report mentions unverified claims that SJ-21 might have some form of net used to capture space debris, claims which have also appeared on social media.
Analyzing the potential applications of these dual-use satellites is difficult. As CASI notes, while SJ-21’s previous behaviors demonstrate “technology to potentially enable weapons or reconnaissance capabilities,” they are also perfectly in line with China’s peaceful economic and scientific goals in space, particularly related to debris removal.
Still, if SJ-21 can grab a dead satellite and move it out of orbit, there is likely little stopping it from doing the same thing to an operational one the American military depends upon. It’s important to note that the United States is also exploring on-orbit servicing capabilities that will likely prompt similar concerns from America’s competitors. Northrop Grumman is developing a satellite featuring a DARPA-made robotic arm for a planned launch in 2024 that is capable of “detailed inspections, relocations of client vehicles or simple repairs such as releasing a solar array that is stuck or an antenna that doesn’t deploy properly.”
The fact that China has these capabilities in orbit now underscores concerns the Pentagon has been voicing in recent years about China’s rapidly advancing space capabilities. James Dickinson, commander of United States Space Command, told Congress last year that Chinese satellites like SJ-21 and others “could be used in a future system for grappling other satellites.” As early as 2013, there have been reports of Chinese satellites using robotic arms to grab other satellites. A robotic arm launched aboard the Tianhe module of China’s Tiangong space station has displayed similar capabilities.
The fact that China has these capabilities in orbit now underscores concerns the Pentagon has been voicing in recent years about China’s rapidly advancing space capabilities. James Dickinson, commander of United States Space Command, told Congress last year that Chinese satellites like SJ-21 and others “could be used in a future system for grappling other satellites.” As early as 2013, there have been reports of Chinese satellites using robotic arms to grab other satellites. A robotic arm launched aboard the Tianhe module of China’s Tiangong space station has displayed similar capabilities.
With all of these developments, it’s no wonder Space Force recently expanded its Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program aimed at keeping an eye on other satellites in the same orbit as SJ-21 where many of America’s critical early warning and spy satellites reside. Some Pentagon leadership have also argued that declassification of America’s space-based capabilities could help serve as a deterrent and boost support for Space Force.
As Shijian-21’s recent actions demonstrate, there is a pressing need for the United States to be able to defend its assets in distant orbit. It’s likely we could see similar shows of force in the near term as Space Force responds to other nations’ demonstrations of “killer” satellite capabilities.
