Issue 113

31 Dec: China placed its TJS-12 (62374) satellite, launched on 20 Dec 2024, into Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO) over the Earth at 146.5°E. TJS-12 is inclined 2.0°; higher than any of the other suspected TJS Missile Warning or SIGINT satellites. At its current location, TJS-12 is located 1.7° west of Gaofen-13 02 (55912), a Chinese GEO based imaging satellite launched in 2023. Interestingly, GF-13 02 maneuvered from its position at 146.6°E to 148.2°E in early October 2024. The relationship between TJS-12 and GF-13 02 has some similarities to that of TJS-11 (59020) and Yaogan-41 (58582).

– TJS-12 was first observed at 146.5°E and 2.0° inclination on 31 Dec 2024.

• Per Orbital Focus other GEO satellites in the area are GF-13 02 at 148.2°E and Shiyan 9 (47851) at 149.0°E. Shiyan 9 is inclined 17.7°.
• Coincidentally, SJ-23 (55131) was also in the area as it drifts east along the GEO belt. On 10 Jan 2025 SJ-23 was ~120km from TJS-12 with a solar phase angle of 124° making it favorable for imaging (see graphic next page).
• TJS-12’s GEO position, 146.5°E, was also the initial position for TJS-7 (49115) before it relocated to the western hemisphere. TJS-7 is now over the equator at 99.4°W which is due south of the state of Texas. However, China is actively maintaining TJS-7’s inclination between 0.0 and 0.6°. The mission of TJS-7 remains unknown.

– Per Gunther’s Space Page, TJS-12 is possibly associated with China’s Qianshao-3 SIGINT constellation. TJS-12 may also be a GEO based missile warning satellite.

• Gunther’s lists TJS-1 (40892), 4 (44637), & 9 (40892) as being possible SIGINT satellites.
• TJS-12 is situated between TJS-1 and TJS-9. It is 8.5° west of TJS-1 (155.0°E) and 9.4° east of TJS-9 (137.1°E).
• TJS-12’s 2.0° inclination is unique to this group of satellites. TJS-1, 4, & 9 inclinations are 0.1°.

– China’s official launch statement noted TJS-12 was developed by SAST. This is significant in that SAST is believed to be the developer of the 4 TJS missile warning satellites China operates in GEO: TJS-2 (41911), TJS-5 (44978) & TJS-6 (47613).

At this time the mission of TJS-12 remains unknown. It is likely fulfilling either a SIGINT or Missile Warning function but other uses remain possible.

– Comparison between TJS-12 / GF-13 02 and TJS-11 / YG-41 “Pairings”

• Location
  • TJS-12 is at 146.5°E, GF-13 02 is at 148.2° a difference of 1.7.°
  • TJS-11 is at 120.3°E, YG-41 is at 123.1°E a difference of 2.8°.
• Inclination
  • GF-13 is inclined 1.6° or 80% of TJS-12 2.0° inclination.
  • YG-41 is inclined 4.2° or 84% of TJS-11 5.0° inclination.
• Phasing
  • TJS-12 “leads” GF-13 02 by about 1hr 45min.
  • YG-41 “leads” TJS-11 by about 1hr 06 min.

– Background

• GF-13 02 is one of China‘s GEO based imagery satellites and are believed to have a 15m resolution. China launched GF-13 02 on 17 Mar 2023. From Apr 2023 – Oct 2024 GF-13 02 was located at 146.7°E, very near where TJS-12 is now. On ~8-9 Oct GF-13 02 decreased its SMA ~52km initiating an eastward drift. China relocated the satellite at 148.2°E on 13 Oct 2024 where it has remained.
• YG-41 is also an imagery satellite (launched in late-2023) but has a better resolution than GF-13 02. China used its most powerful rocket, the LM-5, with an extended fairing to launch the satellite into GTO. Yaogan-41 is believed to have resolution down to around 2.5 meters and can likely see, identify and track car-sized objects throughout the entire Indo-Pacific region.
• The mission of TJS-11 remains unknown. Like YG-41, China used the LM-5 with extended fairing to launch the satellite. China released little information regarding the satellite’s mission, stating it would be mainly used to carry out multi-band, high-speed satellite communication technology verification.

16 Jan 2025: On 6 Jan 2025 China launched a Long March-3B with the Shijian-25 (62485) satellite from Xichang. According to official sources, the satellite entered the planned orbit and will be “primarily used for the verification of satellite fuel replenishment and life extension service technologies”. Most interesting is the fact that China placed SJ-25 into a co-planar orbit with Shijiian-21 (49330.) SAST is the manufacturer for both SJ-21 and SJ-25 satellites. SJ-21 may be the intended refueling customer. Launch Video.

– China maneuvered SJ-25 out of GTO on ~13 Jan 2025. China has placed the satellite at 120.2°E which is 0.1° west of TJS-11. SJ-21 is 28.6° away at 148.8°E.

– SJ-25’s orbit is inclined 10.2° with a RAAN (orbit twist) value of 43.75°. SJ-21 is also inclined 10.2° and has nearly the exact same RAAN value of 43.745°.

– Recall that for two objects to be co-planar they must have the same inclination and RAAN. SJ-25 and SJ-21 meet this criteria. Also recall that changing inclination or RAAN requires significant energy/fuel.

– Why China initially located SJ-25 “near” TJS-11 is an open question. Examining their orbits, SJ-25 does not get closer than 450km from TJS-11. TJS-11 is inclined 5.0° with a RAAN of 322.3°…it is NOT co-planar with SJ-25.

– China can relocate SJ-25 to conduct proximity operations with SJ-21 using only 22-32m/sec of fuel. The exact fuel usage will depend on how quickly China moves SJ-25 to intercept SJ-21. Thanks to Bob Hall and the COMSPOC team for their analysis.

-Background on SJ-21

• SJ-21 launched on 24 Oct 2021. After launch China announced it was intended to perform debris mitigation experimentation.
• In late January 2022, SJ-21 docked/captured a defunct Chinese satellite to dragged it 300km out of geostationary orbit and into a “graveyard orbit.” The test demonstrated capabilities only previously exhibited by the United States and may have been the first capture of a non-cooperative target in GEO. See COMSPOC Video & Exoanalytic Video.
• SJ-21’s last maneuver occurred on ~10 Jul 2023 when it decreased its altitude ~64km. At the time its inclination was 9.2°. For the past 555 days SJ-21 has not maneuvered and its inclination naturally increased to 10.2°.

– Background on SJ-25: Per Andrew Jones:

• Shijian-25 was developed and manufactured by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST), a major CASC subsidiary. The spacecraft will be used for “satellite fuel replenishment and life extension service technology verification,” according to a SAST statement.
• The Shijian-25 mission suggests China is focusing on advancing capabilities for maintaining and prolonging the operational lifespan of satellites already in orbit. Such capabilities can reduce costs and improve sustainability in space operations.
• While the mission may be focused on extending the lifetime of a civilian satellite, the capabilities could, for example, be used in the future to support military satellites through on-orbit servicing. The People’s Liberation Army is known to be working on the technology and training tools for on-orbit satellite refueling for both peacetime and wartime scenarios.

The fact SJ-25 is co-planar with SJ-21 strongly suggests SJ-21 is the intended refueling target. Both satellites were manufactured by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology increasing the chances of collaboration between development/design teams. SJ-21 may have expended most of its onboard fuel during the debris mitigation demonstration and it may have been equipped for refueling in anticipation of SJ-25 development and launch. Time, and SJ-25 maneuvers, will tell.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4O_KleiyXY0

18 Jan: TJS-3 conducted a series of maneuvers resulting in its positioning in the neighborhood of SJ-21 at 148°E. While the TJS-3 has a different inclination and RAAN than SJ-21 (it is NOT co-planar) its positioning could be in preparation to support a re-fueling demonstration involving SJ-25 and SJ-21.

– Here is a brief timeline of TJS-3 maneuvers:

• Our last look at TJS-3 was in mid-November 2024 when it had apparently completed a 1 year test with TJS-10 (58204). Up until this point TJS-3 had maintained its location at 173°E for 6 months.
• On 18 November 2024, TJS-3 increased its SMA (altitude) to ~32km above the GEO belt and initiated a ~0.4° per day westward drift.
• TJS-3 maintained this orbital profile until it reached 148.7°E on 13 January 2025.
• From 14-15 January, Chinese space operators reduced the satellites altitude ~53km reversing the satellite’s westward drift.
• On 16 January, China raised TJS-3’s altitude 21.9km placing the satellite onto the GEO belt pausing its drift at ~148.26°E. TJS-3 has remained at this altitude through 18 January.

• At its current altitude TJS-3 has a negligible drift of 0.005° west per day.
• As of 18 January, TJS-3 was located at 148.4°E and SJ-21 was located at 148.7°E.

– TJS-3 is NOT co-planar with SJ-25 & SJ-21.

• TJS-3 has an inclination of 1.2° and a RAAN of 86.3°…neither value matches that of SJ-21 or SJ-25 which are both inclined 10.2° with a RAAN value of 43.75°.
• In their current orbits the point of closest approach between TJS-3 and SJ-21 is ~300km.

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TJS-3 Background: China launched TJS-3 on 24 Dec 2018 (thanks guys) and immediately engaged in unusual behavior for geostationary satellites. It performed several RPO events with its Apogee Kick Motor (see COMSPOC video) and has been rumored to be a GEO “inspector sat.” See review of TJS-3 and other Chinese proximity operations in this excellent SWF overview.

Russia’s Cosmos 2577 (still unnamed in Spacetrack.org catalog but probably 61179) may have experienced an on-orbit failure as the satellite appears to be no longer performing maneuvers to maintain its altitude. By contrast, Cosmos 2578 (also unnamed but likely 61180) continues to maneuver regularly. As a result the two spacecraft have begun to diverge. For the first several weeks the two satellites orbited relatively close to one another, however this appears to have changed in mid-December.

– Russia launched Cosmos 2577 and 2578 on 17 Sep 2024 from Plesetsk on an Angara 1.2. Russia placed both satellites into a sun synchronous orbit which is typical for imagery satellites. Both are operating at a low altitude of 339x322km and inclination 96.77°.

– Cosmos 2577/2578 are nearly co-planar with Cosmos 2574 (58658) and Cosmos 2575 (58929).

• Cosmos-2574 may be an EO MKA or Razbeg imagery satellite. EO MKA / Razbeg imagery satellites are believed to be a small optical reconnaissance satellites (~150 kg) built by VNIIEM. Expected ground resolution is 0.9m.

– Per Bart Hendrickx, “ until mid-December, when Kosmos-2578 started performing regular burns to maintain a mean altitude just under 300 km. Kosmos-2577’s orbit, however, has continued to decay and the satellite is now flying more than 10 km below Kosmos-2578 (278×289 km vs. 290×301 km). Possibly, some kind of on-board failure is preventing it from countering its orbital decay, but it’s too early to draw any definitive conclusions. The first three satellites believed to have belonged to this series (Kosmos-2551, 2555, 2560) showed similar behavior, re-entering only months after launch without having made any obvious maneuvers. It’s not known if this was intended or not.