The astounding milestone that China’s satellite capabilities have reached has alarmed Western governments. A recent ground-breaking achievement was made by the Chinese Jilin-1 satellite, which tracked 1994 PC1, an asteroid that is 2 million kilometers from Earth. It is challenging to precisely trace the asteroid’s journey at this distance, which is five times farther than that of the moon.
The asteroid, comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge, posed a potential threat due to its massive size and distance. However, the Jilin-1 satellite, typically used for Earth observation, performed an extraordinary maneuver. It redirected its camera from Earth to space, capturing images of 1994 PC1 every second. This mission, which involved 51 shooting tasks over five days in January 2022, significantly reduced the asteroid’s orbit positioning error to just 33 kilometers, enhancing the accuracy of ground-based telescopes by two orders of magnitude. This critical data confirmed that 1994 PC1 would safely bypass Earth, averting any collision risk.
The mission, declassified only recently, showcased China’s sophisticated space capabilities, raising concerns among Western nations, especially the United States. The Chinese Jilin-1 satellite, part of a constellation of over 100 satellites, forms the backbone of China’s Earth observation network. These satellites are known for their rapid, high-resolution imaging capabilities, previously capturing intricate details such as an American F-22 fighter jet in flight.
The success of this mission highlights China’s advanced space-ground collaborative capabilities. It involved large ground observation stations in Beijing and Xinjiang, as well as a dedicated satellite for astronomical observation. China’s expanding space capabilities, potentially leveraged for military purposes, are causing unease in the US, which leads globally with over 8,000 satellites in orbit.
At the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies’ Spacepower Security Forum, US military officials expressed concerns over China’s growing fleet of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) satellites. General B. Chance Saltzman highlighted the threat posed by China’s robust sensor-shooter kill web, while Kelly D. Hammett warned that the US might be falling behind in the space race. As China continues to enhance its space observation systems, the strategic balance in space remains a critical concern for Western nations.
