China Launches 'Shijian-25' Satellite to Experiment with Orbital Refueling in Space.

Science and Technology

In January 2025, China successfully launched the 'Shijian-25' satellite into Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) using a Long March 3B rocket. This marked China’s first space mission of 2025.


      - The launch took place at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China.

      - This mission also marked the 555th launch of the Long March series of rockets and China’s first rocket launch of the year.

      - The 'Shijian-25' satellite, developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST), aims to test technologies for in-orbit refueling and extending satellite lifespans, with the Long March 3B rocket serving as a key vehicle for China’s GTO launches since 1996.

Main Point :-   (i) This mission follows the 2021 launch of the Shijian-21 satellite, which focused on space debris mitigation and was also developed by SAST.

      (ii) The mission aims to improve China's sustainability and reduce costs in space operations by verifying technologies for satellite refueling and extending their operational lifespans.

(iii) The satellite is equipped with advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology for high-resolution imaging and precise spatial data collection, while China also plans additional missions in 2025, including crewed missions to the Tiangong space station and the Tianwen-2 asteroid sample return mission.
About China

President: Xi Jinping
Capital: Beijing
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