onsdag 30. september 2026

China’s disputed satellite refueling heralds new space war era

Recent disclosures about China’s purported in-orbit servicing operations have intensified a quiet revolution in space, where the mechanics of satellite sustainment are swiftly becoming the frontline of great-power counterspace rivalry.

This month, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that Chinese researchers claim the country carried out a pioneering in-orbit refueling operation on a high-altitude navigation satellite, though orbital tracking data raise doubts about whether the mission occurred, according to recent scientific papers and satellite specialists.