Overview

• Shijian-25, launched in January, has maneuvered into position alongside Shijian-21 and is scheduled to rendezvous in geostationary orbit on June 11.
• The two satellites will attempt China’s inaugural on-orbit refueling in GEO, with Shijian-25 poised to transfer roughly 313 pounds of hydrazine to extend Shijian-21’s service life by eight years.
• Shijian-21 previously completed a mission towing the defunct Beidou-2 G2 satellite to a graveyard orbit before reactivating its propulsion to approach Shijian-25.
• US Space Force surveillance craft USA 270 and USA 271 flank the Chinese pair to document the operations and assess Beijing’s advancing space-servicing capabilities.
• The trial overseen by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology could pave the way for cost-effective satellite servicing and future contingency refueling efforts.