Claims China’s BeiDou satellite was refuelled in orbit could change space race

AI Summary

Chinese researchers have reportedly achieved the first-ever in-orbit refuelling of a BeiDou satellite in high Earth orbit, a development that could significantly advance China's position in the space race. The innovation may alter satellite operation capabilities and space exploration strategies.

Chinese researchers appear to have revealed a previously unknown satellite-to-satellite refuelling operation in high Earth orbit, putting the country at the forefront of a technology that could reshape the space race. In a paper undergoing peer review for the Journal of Deep Space Exploration, the team said China had “successfully provided room-temperature propellant refuelling for a high-orbit BeiDou satellite for the first time”. The researchers from the state-funded Deep Space Exploration...