HELSINKI — Australian company HEO recently made headlines by imaging and modeling a mysterious Chinese satellite before its reentry into Earth’s atmosphere. This new information sheds light on the Xinjishu Yanzheng-7 (XJY-7), a remote sensing technology test satellite created by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST).
Launched in December 2020 aboard the Long March 8 rocket, XJY-7 was initially described as a technology validation satellite. Its features were largely unknown until HEO’s observations revealed crucial details, including a large synthetic aperture radar (SAR) antenna.
HEO specializes in providing images of spacecraft using satellites from various Earth observation partners. Their observations allowed them to characterize the XJY-7’s configuration and behavior. They noted that the spacecraft needed to rotate its body to generate power because of its fixed solar panels.
By conducting simultaneous imaging missions with two satellites, HEO gathered critical data about XJY-7’s movements at specific times, enhancing their understanding of the satellite. They constructed a detailed 3D model based on multiple observations from different angles.
According to HEO, “Many satellites, like XJY-7, have uncertain characteristics. High-frequency imaging helps clarify these unknowns.” This technology allows satellite operators to diagnose problems and adds a new layer to traditional Space Domain Awareness (SDA) methods. Unlike conventional systems, HEO’s techniques can analyze a satellite’s shape and behavior more accurately, providing richer information.
This development also has geopolitical implications. For instance, in 2023, the company Maxar (now Vantor) released images of a Chinese Shijian satellite, while China’s Changguang Satellite Technology responded by capturing images of a Worldview satellite. Such exchanges highlight the competitive dynamic in satellite technology.
HEO has conducted about 4,000 imaging operations in low Earth orbit and plans to expand into geostationary spaces. Their advancements in imaging technology have boosted their capabilities in recent years. They aim to gather extensive data quickly, improving their understanding of various satellites and their behaviors.
As for XJY-7, it entered a sun-synchronous orbit after its launch and is believed to have reentered the Earth’s atmosphere over the Canary Islands on October 16, according to satellite tracker Marco Langbroek.
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