A paired Shijian-29 test system has tightened its formation in the geostationary belt to roughly 30–35 km — the closest the two have flown — while the U.S. inspector USA 324 maneuvers to keep both in view.
Greg Gillinger
Saber Astronautics · CelesTrak · COMSPOC
14 Jun 2026 · 9-min read
Since arriving in the geostationary belt in early January, Shijian-29A and -29B have held station near 73°E, drifting in and out of a loose 10–90 km formation. Over the first week of June the pair executed a coordinated set of burns that narrowed their separation to about 30–35 km and synchronized their longitudinal drift — the tightest, most deliberate formation the system has shown to dat
Element-set histories show both objects adjusting semi-major axis within hours of one another — behavior consistent with a planned, jointly commanded maneuver rather than independent station-keeping. The timing, direction, and magnitude of the burns line up too closely to be coincidental.
The synchronization suggests SJ-29A/B is rehearsing cooperative proximity operations. Two spacecraft holding a controlled, close formation is a prerequisite for inspection, servicing, or coordinated RPO against a third object — a capability with obvious dual-use implications.
The maneuver did not go unobserved. USA 324, a U.S. geostationary inspector, shifted longitude in the days that followed to hold a viewing geometry on the pair, settling into a position roughly one degree west.
Orbital parameters — SJ-29A (9 Jun 2026)
- a
- 42,164 km
.
- e
- 0.0003
.
- i
- 0.4°
.
- lon
- 73.3°E
.
- sep
- ~35 km
| Date | Object | Δa (km) | Resulting sep. (km) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Jun | SJ-29B | +12 | ~70 |
| 7 Jun | SJ-29A | −9 | ~48 |
| 8 Jun | SJ-29A/B | paired | ~35 |
- Watch — COMSPOC fly-along visualization
Whether SJ-29A/B is working toward inspection of a partner satellite, a docking demonstration, or simply maturing the guidance needed to fly close formations, the trend line is clear: each pass tightens, and each maneuver is better coordinated than the last. The Flash will track the pair’s separation through the next station-keeping cycle.