As 2025 begins, China has marked a significant achievement in space technology with the launch of Shijian-25. This innovative satellite launched aboard a Long March 3B rocket is designed to test ‘in-orbit refueling’ and ‘satellite life-extension’ services.
The launch took place from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China on January 7.
The Shijian-25 mission aims to advance China’s capabilities to maintain and prolong the operational lifespan of satellites already in orbit. Such capabilities can reduce costs and improve sustainability in space operations while significantly contributing to reducing space debris.
Autonomous Space Navigation Breakthrough
In November 2024, China reached a historic milestone with the launch of two autonomous satellites – Siwei Gaojing-2 03 and Gaojing-2 04 – the world’s first ‘self-driving’ satellites, as they were called.
According to reports, these pioneering satellites can independently adjust their trajectory and orbit, eliminating the need for ground control systems.
Launched aboard a Long March-2C carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, these cutting-edge satellites are poised to revolutionize commercial space surveying and mapping.
With the ability to autonomously navigate and even return to orbit and fly around, they are setting a new standard for autonomous space technology.
Developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST), part of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), these self-driving satellites are designed to transform Earth observation.
The developers envision these satellites as harbingers of a new era where autonomous systems dominate space operations, enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of commercial surveying and mapping.
Advanced Earth Observation Capabilities With SAR
The satellites feature sophisticated Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology, enabling high-resolution imagery and precise spatial data collection.
This system excels in various applications, from disaster management to agricultural monitoring, operating effectively in all weather conditions and times of day.
The SAR technology allows these satellites to continuously transmit crucial data from Low Earth Orbit, providing valuable information for civilian and strategic purposes.
SAR works by emitting energy pulses that bounce off the Earth’s surface, measuring the time it takes for these pulses to return, and generating detailed images through microwave signals. The precision of these radar payloads simplifies orbit control and enhances safety measures in space operations.
Operating in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), these SAR satellites can transmit vital data around the clock, cutting through clouds, fog, and darkness. This all-weather capability opens the door to a wide range of uses, from monitoring oil spills to managing natural resources and responding to disasters.
Their ability to capture “all-day, all-weather, high-resolution radar imagery” will significantly improve the accuracy of mapping and surveying products, making them indispensable tools for military reconnaissance, surveillance, and precision targeting.
The Siwei Project & China’s Growing Space Network
These launches are part of China’s ambitious “Siwei commercial remote sensing constellation project,” which aims to deploy 28 satellites by 2025. The project, approved by CASC in 2022, will serve diverse industries, including maritime surveillance and land management.
In April 2024, the Siwei Gaojing-3 01, a commercial optical satellite developed by SAST, was launched, marking another milestone in China’s space ambitions. Unlike optical satellites that rely on visible and near-infrared wavebands, the Gaojing-2 satellites employ SAR technology, offering all-weather, day-and-night observation capabilities.
Additionally, in September 2024, China made a groundbreaking leap in space technology by launching its first “reusable, returnable” satellite, Shijian-19. The satellite was successfully deployed aboard a Long March-2D rocket, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s space capabilities.
Notably, China has also made headlines with the launch of the Ludi Tance 4-01 in August 2023. This satellite, the world’s first to operate in “geosynchronous orbit,” provides a permanent “all-day, all-weather” view of at least one-third of the Earth’s surface.
Positioned to continuously monitor China and surrounding regions, it is poised to enhance earthquake detection and disaster relief efforts significantly.
In early 2022, China also launched the Ludi Tance 1-01 satellites to low Earth orbit to monitor landslides and other geological phenomena. These satellites, along with the entire Ludi Tance series, play a pivotal role in China’s long-term space development plan for civilian infrastructure, focusing on high and medium-resolution optical and SAR constellations for comprehensive land, marine, and atmospheric monitoring.
With these cutting-edge projects, China is positioning itself as a leader in space-based remote sensing and environmental monitoring.
China’s Space Ambitions
Under President Xi Jinping’s leadership since 2013, China has prioritized becoming a space power. In October 2024, the country unveiled an ambitious space science development plan focusing on five frontiers: extreme universe studies, space-time phenomena, Sun-Earth system observation, habitable planet research, and space-based biological and physical sciences.
Looking ahead, China plans to send a humanoid robot to the Moon by 2028. Additionally, Deep Blue Aerospace is entering the space tourism market, offering commercial space flights.
Despite China’s final space launch of 2024 not reaching its intended orbit, resulting in the loss of its payload, it still celebrated a record-breaking year in space exploration, completing 68 orbital launch attempts, surpassing 2023’s total, demonstrating its growing prominence in space exploration.
China’s remarkable progress in space technology throughout 2024 and early 2025 demonstrates its emergence as a major space power. From autonomous satellites to advanced Earth observation systems, these achievements showcase China’s growing technological sophistication and growth in innovation.
- Shubhangi Palve is a defense and aerospace journalist. Before joining the EurAsian Times, she worked for ET Prime. In this capacity, she focused on covering defense strategies and the defense sector from a financial perspective. She offers over 15 years of extensive experience in the media industry, spanning print, electronic, and online domains.
- Contact the author at shubhapalve (at) gmail.com
