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Keyword: shijian21

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  • An object is now orbiting alongside China’s Shijian-21 debris mitigation satellite

    11/06/2021 9:30:36 AM PDT · by BenLurkin · 17 replies
    spacenews.com ^ | November 5, 2021 | Andrew Jones —
    On Nov. 3 U.S. Space Force’s 18th Space Control Squadron (SPCS) catalogued a new object alongside Shijian-21 with the international designator 2021-094C. The object is noted as a rocket body and more precisely an apogee kick motor (AKM), used in some launches for a satellite to circularize and lower the inclination of its transfer orbit and enter geostationary orbit. Apogee kick motors usually perform a final maneuver after satellite separation so as to not pose a threat to active satellites through risk of collision. However both Shijian-21 and the SJ-21 AKM are side by side in geostationary orbit. It is...