The first satellite refueling in the Earth’s orbit is being carried out by China

According to RCO News AgencyChina is on the verge of conducting a vital orbital refueling experiment.

China’s orbital refueling test reflects another bold move to challenge America‘s dominance over the world.

If everything goes through the program, this test will help the credibility of a new technology that can dramatically extend the life of satellites and spacecraft in the Earth’s orbit.

For this experiment, two Chinese satellites will be in orbit. They then anchor for a test show.

The United States carefully monitors these developments, as the two countries continue to controversy over global space leadership.

Refueling in China orbit

Two Shijian-21 satellites (Shijian-21) and Shijian-25 (Shijian-25) have performed several maneuvers in the past few days. On Monday, June 9, they were only in a two -degree position. This information is based on the company’s information about the Compoc Space Position.

The two satellites are supposed to be connected today. This will be the first trial in the GEO, in which one satellite will basically act as a fuel tank for another.

The Shijian-25 satellite transmits approximately 142 kg of hydrazine fuel to Shijian-21, which extends the life of the second satellite to eight years.

The Shanghai Space Technology Academy has developed the two satellites, one of the subsidiaries of the Chinese Aerospace Science and Technology Company.

It is noteworthy that the Shijian-25 satellite was launched in January this year (2025), while Shijian-21 has been in space since 2021.

Sheikh-21 satellite has previously participated in a complex orbital operation. In 2022, the satellite was connected to a Chinese navigation satellite called “Beidou-2 G2”. The Shijian-21 then took the satellite to the orbit above the orbit.

Battle of China and America to dominate space

China’s satellite operations will be observed by two US surveillance spacecraft. The Pentagon is concerned that this new technology will be a remarkable jump for the Chinese space program, according to the Gizmodo website.

The two USA 270 and USA 271 are part of the Earth’s Space Circuit Positioning Program. According to Compoc, the two satellites have recently been maneuvers to fall into the observation distance of two Chinese satellites.

“While the US satellites are not directly involved in the experiment, their proximity increases US strategic awareness,” the company added.

The refueling of the circuit is the cornerstone of the Spacex and the Starship, which is ultimately aimed at sending humans to Mars. For this purpose, the human carrier stroke missile must refuel in the orbit to have enough fuel to reach the Red Planet. This is because it will consume a lot of fuel to reach the Earth’s orbit.

At the same time, the US company Northrop Grumman fuel a space satellite in 2019, and its operation extended satellite life to five years.

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