Space has always been humanity’s final frontier, but it’s rapidly becoming the ultimate junkyard. With thousands of defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, and countless fragments of debris hurtling around Earth at breakneck speeds, our orbital environment is getting dangerously cluttered. And now China is stepping up to the plate with some seriously innovative approaches to tackle this growing crisis. But the big question on everyone’s mind is whether these efforts are purely about space housekeeping or something much more strategic.
The reality is that Earth’s orbit resembles a cosmic demolition derby these days. An estimated 130 million objects smaller than 1cm and 34,000 larger than 10cm are travelling in orbit at speeds of thousands of kilometres per hour, creating what experts describe as an increasingly dangerous environment for space operations. China’s sudden interest in cleaning up space debris comes at a time when the country is rapidly expanding its own space presence with mega-constellations and ambitious space station projects.
The most intriguing part? China’s approach isn’t just theoretical anymore. They’re actually testing real hardware in space right now, and the results are quite impressive. But as we’ll see, these developments raise as many questions as they answer about China’s ultimate intentions in space. According to a report in Space.com: China’s space activities have grown tremendously, with an operational space station in low Earth orbit (LEO), a greatly increased rate of launches and plans for multiple constellations consisting of thousands of satellites. The growth of the country’s presence in orbit also raises issues of sustainability.
Revolutionary Sail Technology Takes Flight
Think of it like a cosmic parachute, but working in reverse. Chinese aerospace scientists have managed to use a large “sail” to de-orbit spacecraft at the end of their life. The de-orbiter is a sail-like device made of a thin film, the thickness of which is less than one tenth of the diameter of a hair. Folded, it is approximately the size of an adult’s palm, but it can cover an area of 25 square meters when unfolded.
What makes this technology remarkable is its efficiency. Unlike traditional space-junk removal methods, such as robotic arms, tethers and nets, the de-orbiter can reduce space-junk without additional fuel consumption. It only requires a small amount of electricity to function. To put this in perspective, a 15 kg satellite at an altitude of 700 km would continue in orbit for 120 years without deorbiting measures, but by deploying a 2-square-meter sail on the satellite, its time in orbit can be cut to less than 10 years.
The Shijian Mystery Satellites
China’s space debris mitigation efforts center around its mysterious Shijian series of satellites, and they’re nothing short of fascinating. China is developing the capability to remove space debris from orbit, according to a top official, with research currently underway on the active removal of space debris on orbit. The flagship of this effort is Shijian-21, launched in October 2021, which has already proven its capabilities in dramatic fashion.
The satellite’s first major demonstration was nothing short of impressive. In late December, Shijian-21 approached the defunct Beidou-2 G2 navigation satellite, matching its orbit and rendezvousing with, and eventually docking with the dead satellite. After docking it performed an engine burn on 21 January 2022 which took the defunct satellite beyond the usual graveyard orbit of 300 kilometers above GEO. Shijian-21 then undocked from Beidou-2 G2 on 26 January 2022, leaving the defunct satellite in the graveyard orbit. It’s like having a cosmic tow truck that can literally drag broken-down satellites to a safe disposal area.
Advanced Refueling Missions in Progress
But China isn’t stopping at just moving dead satellites around. They’re now testing something even more ambitious – orbital refueling technology. The Shijian-25 mission suggests China is focusing on advancing capabilities for maintaining and prolonging the operational lifespan of satellites already in orbit, with the spacecraft designed for satellite fuel replenishment and life extension service technology verification. This represents a fundamental shift from the throwaway mentality that has dominated space operations for decades.
Shijian-25 is expected to use its robotic arms to latch onto Shijian-21 and replenish its fuel. The latter used up much of its propellant in 2022 while towing a defunct BeiDou navigation satellite into a higher graveyard orbit. Imagine being able to top off your satellite’s gas tank while it’s still working perfectly – that’s exactly what China is demonstrating right now, thousands of miles above our heads.
Dual-Use Technology Concerns
Here’s where things get complicated and frankly, a bit unsettling. Active debris removal is a dual-use capability, meaning it can be used for civilian purposes but also for military ends. The ability to remove a defunct rocket stage or satellite from orbit could also be used to target an adversary’s spacecraft. It’s the classic problem with space technology – the same robotic arm that can gently refuel a friendly satellite could theoretically grab and disable an enemy’s satellite.
US military officials aren’t hiding their concerns. General James H. Dickinson, Commander of United States Space Command, was the first US official to speak publicly on Shijian-17 warning of its counterspace capabilities, noting that space-based robotic arm technology could be used in a future system for grappling other satellites. The technology is inherently neutral, but its applications certainly aren’t.
Global Space Debris Crisis
To understand why China’s efforts matter so much, we need to grasp the sheer scale of the space junk problem. Most satellites were not designed with the end of their usefulness in mind. A significant portion of the thousands of satellites in orbit are now defunct. Along with the smaller objects these defunct satellites constitute a major problem both for existing and future satellites and space stations. We’re essentially living in a world where the majority of stuff in space is broken and potentially dangerous.
The situation is getting worse by the day. Studies suggest the amount of space junk could increase dramatically by 2100. Even more concerning, the International Space Station has had to perform 25 evasive maneuvers since 1999 to avoid catastrophic damage. That’s like having to swerve your car to avoid accidents every few months for over two decades.
Speaking to media at the International Astronautical Congress in Sydney, Australia in late Sept, Bian Zhigang, vice administrator of the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said: “Now China is promoting the space debris mitigation top level planning to promote monitoring and alerting and also, most importantly, is, we are currently researching on the active removal of this space debris on orbit.”
The Space Junk Crisis is a Cause for Concern
The space junk crisis has become so severe that even removing a relatively small number of objects could make a massive difference. If we could remove the 50 most concerning pieces of space debris in low-Earth orbit, there’d be a 50% reduction in the overall debris-generating potential, according to research calculating the objects most likely to collide with other fragments and create more debris. It’s a reminder that sometimes the biggest problems have surprisingly achievable solutions – if we’re willing to act on them. But here’s the catch – solving the space debris problem isn’t just about the technology. As Beijing prepares to tackle space debris, transparency and trust will determine whether the effort is viewed as stewardship or a strategic threat. China’s secretive approach to these missions, while perhaps understandable from a national security perspective, makes it incredibly difficult for the international community to distinguish between genuine environmental stewardship and potential military capabilities development.
What makes China’s approach particularly noteworthy is their comprehensive strategy. They’re not just focusing on one solution but developing multiple complementary technologies – from drag sails that passively deorbit defunct satellites to active robotic systems that can physically manipulate objects in space. This multi-pronged approach suggests a serious, long-term commitment to addressing the space debris problem, whether for purely environmental reasons or more strategic ones. The global implications of China’s space debris removal capabilities extend far beyond just cleaning up orbit.
As more countries and private companies launch satellites and establish space infrastructure, the ability to actively manage the space environment becomes increasingly valuable – and potentially controversial. The same technology that can save a malfunctioning satellite or remove dangerous debris could theoretically be used to interfere with another nation’s space assets. So here we are, watching China develop genuinely impressive technology that could help solve one of space exploration’s biggest challenges, while simultaneously wondering about the broader implications of these capabilities. It’s a perfect example of how advances in space technology often exist in that gray area between beneficial progress and potential security concerns. What do you think about China’s space debris removal efforts – environmental stewardship or something more strategic? Tell us in the comments.
Hi, I’m Andrew, and I come from India. Experienced content specialist with a passion for writing. My forte includes health and wellness, Travel, Animals, and Nature. A nature nomad, I am obsessed with mountains and love high-altitude trekking. I have been on several Himalayan treks in India including the Everest Base Camp in Nepal, a profound experience.
