December 1, 2024
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Chinese Military and Intelligence Rendezvous and Proximity Operations Fact Sheet
Editors
Victoria Samson
Counterspace Capabilities
Space Sustainability
Space Situational Awareness
Space Traffic Management
Chinese Military and Intelligence Rendezvous and Proximity Operations Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet
Editors
Victoria Samson
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Since 2008, China has conducted multiple tests of satellite technologies for robotic rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) to support surveillance and inspection of other space objects in both low Earth orbit (LEO) and geostationary Earth orbit (GEO), most of which are related to military or intelligence operations. While these missions have been publicly acknowledged by China, most have few public details and a few remain shrouded in secrecy. None of the programs listed here have strong evidence to link them to co-orbital ASAT testing or deployment.
