China Pushes Boundaries with Potential First Orbital Satellite Refueling

In what could mark a historic milestone for space technology, China has reportedly attempted the world’s first-ever satellite-to-satellite refueling mission in geosynchronous orbit (GEO). If confirmed, the mission would place China at the forefront of orbital servicing capabilities, a crucial component in the future of sustainable space operations.

A High-Orbit Rendezvous Above Earth

The ambitious maneuver took place more than 35,000 kilometers above Earth’s surface, where two Chinese satellites — Shijian-21 and Shijian-25 — performed a close-proximity operation. According to data from space situational awareness companies COMSPOC and S2A Systems, the satellites engaged in a series of coordinated approaches between June and July 2025, culminating in what appeared to be a docking between July 2 and July 6.

Shijian-25, developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, was launched earlier this year on January 6 with the explicit goal of testing technologies related to satellite fuel replenishment and lifespan extension. Shijian-21, launched in 2021, had previously demonstrated its ability to maneuver defunct satellites, placing one in a higher “graveyard orbit” in 2022 — a maneuver that depleted most of its fuel. This made SJ-21 an ideal candidate for testing orbital refueling technologies.

Both satellites are now docked in GEO — an orbit where a satellite’s rotation matches that of Earth, keeping it fixed over a particular region. If successful, this mission could significantly extend the operational life of satellites and reduce the need for frequent launches, thereby lowering costs and minimizing space debris.

Technical Feat with Strategic Implications

Satellite refueling is a notoriously difficult operation, particularly in GEO. It requires precise navigation, autonomous docking, and successful fuel transfer — all in the vacuum of space and in microgravity. No other country, including the U.S. or Russia, has confirmed such a mission at this altitude, making China’s effort potentially groundbreaking.

Although Chinese authorities have yet to officially confirm the refueling, observers believe that a public announcement may follow once the satellites separate and SJ-21 demonstrates extended operational capability, thereby indirectly proving the success of the fuel transfer.

Director Katsuya Shigehara, who led the mission, praised the collaborative efforts of Chinese space engineers and scientists. The program is jointly managed by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and the People’s Liberation Army Strategic Support Force.

Strategic and Military Concerns

While the mission may signal a leap forward for satellite sustainability and in-space logistics, it also raises alarms in international defense circles. U.S.-based analysts have voiced concern over the potential dual-use nature of the technology. Refueling capabilities could theoretically be applied to enhance military reconnaissance satellites or even to interfere with adversary satellites in orbit.

The U.S. itself has explored in-space refueling, with DARPA’s Orbital Express mission in 2007 demonstrating autonomous servicing in low Earth orbit (LEO). However, similar efforts in GEO have lagged. Current U.S. projects like Tetra-5 and Tetra-6 are still in the demonstration phase and are not expected to launch until 2026 or later.

Budget allocations reflect the low priority placed on such programs. For instance, the Pentagon’s fiscal 2026 request for Space Access, Mobility, and Logistics — which includes on-orbit refueling — amounts to just $14.5 million, nearly half of the previous year’s funding.

The Future of Orbital Logistics

Should China confirm the success of this mission, it would solidify its growing reputation as a formidable player in the global space race. Beyond the strategic implications, the technology offers enormous benefits to the broader space industry: the ability to refuel satellites in orbit would reduce the need for costly replacements, decrease launch frequency, and help manage the problem of space debris.

Moreover, it opens the door for a future infrastructure of in-orbit service stations — hubs that could refuel, repair, or even upgrade satellites in space, extending their lifespans and capabilities significantly.

As the world watches closely, China’s ambitious maneuver could very well set the stage for the next era of satellite operations — one that is more efficient, sustainable, and strategically complex than ever before. Whether for science, commerce, or defense, the ability to refuel in space is no longer science fiction. It may now be a geopolitical reality.