A mystery object was detected in orbit next to a Chinese satellite
In early November, Space Force spotted an apparent apogee kick motor in orbit alongside China’s Shijian-21 satellite, which launched on October 23. Apogee kick motors are used to put payloads into their target orbits, and they’re typically deposited into graveyard orbits, but it, along with Shijian-21, were parked firmly in geosynchronous orbit. The two objects are positioned relatively close to each other and appear to be synchronized. Given this unorthodox arrangement, speculation emerged that the object is not an apogee kick motor but some kind of “sub-satellite,” the function of which is yet to be determined. We’ll have to wait and see, but China isn’t saying anything.
