Id: 78

Published: 07/29/2025

Description:

Following an initial short interaction in mid-June 2025, SJ-21 and SJ-25 initiated a follow-up series of rendezvous and proximity operations later that month, becoming optically inseparable on July 2, which points to docking or very tight formation flying, with no visible separation confirmed by July 18 and orbits indicating a unified or closely bound pair. Throughout June, the satellites performed subtle adjustments with varying distances, monitored by a U.S. asset that repositioned to observe, underscoring the significance of what might be an inaugural geostationary refueling test, though official details are absent. Future uses could involve relocating to busier orbital zones for extended support, leveraging refueling to enable rare large-scale plane shifts and novel tactical maneuvers for equipped satellites.