Chinese 'space cleaner' spotted grabbing and throwing away old satellite

Deutsche Welle ^ | February 9, 2022 | unattributed

[SunkenCiv]

...The Chinese SJ-21 satellite was seen on January 22 changing its usual place in the sky to approach decommissioned satellite Compass-G2. A few days later, SJ-21 attached to G2, altering its orbit.

Chinese officials haven't yet confirmed that the apparent space tug occurred.

Over the course of the next few days, the spacecraft couple started dancing westward, ExoAnalytic's video footage showed. By January 26, the two satellites separated, and G2 was kicked into oblivion.

The Compass-G2, or BeiDou-2 G2, is a spacecraft from China's BeiDou-2 Navigation Satellite System that failed shortly after launching in 2009. For more than 10 years, the metal carcass has been wandering around Earth alongside millions of other pieces of space trash.

SJ-21, which launched in October 2021, has now returned to a geostationary orbit (GEO) just above the Congo Basin. GEO happens when a satellite orbits Earth over the equator at the same speed the planet rotates...

James Dickinson, commander of the US Space Command said in April 2021 that technology like China's SJ-21 "could be used in a future system for grappling other satellites."

But is there a real threat?

In its 2021 counterspace report, the Secure World Foundation said that there is strong evidence that both China and Russia are working to develop technology with "counterspace capabilities" — the ability to destruct space systems.

[higgmeister]

But is there a real threat?,p>That was the question all over the news over forty years ago about the Soviet's "killer satellite" which was just a proximity blast device.

Raise and call it if you like.

[SunkenCiv]

It was a proximity blast device that they tested dozens of times, and it did work. Breszhnev (sp?) had his fellow commies blind a US spy satellite with a laser during the Ford administration. Dunno if that provocation/test of will was before or after the ASAT treaty.

[MikelTackNailer]

The Chinese have the same reckless disregard for humans on Earth as they do for Chinese on Earth.

"May have to crack some round-eyes to make Glorious People's omelet."

Space tugs? Sounds like a 100 Mile High Club activity. Seriously though, everyone would benefit more from space sweepers collecting the ever-growing mass of orbiting debris threatening all endeavors.