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Chinese satellite observed grappling and pulling another satellite out of its orbit
[FOX] China reportedly displayed another alarming leap in space-based technology and capabilities this week after an analytics firm claimed to observe a satellite "grab" another and pull it from its orbit. China’s Shijian-21 satellite, or SJ-21, disappeared from its regular position and reappeared while making a "large maneuver" to move closer to a dead BeiDou Navigation System satellite. The SJ-21 then pulled the BeiDou out of its orbit and placed it a few hundred miles away in a "graveyard orbit" where it is unlikely to interfere or collide with active satellites. Chinese state media said the SJ-21 was designed to "test and verify space debris mitigation technologies," but the potential to move satellites around presents terrifying capabilities for orbital manipulation of satellites belonging to other nations. Posted by: Skidmark 2022-01-29 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=623631 |