China's Shijian maneuver signals a new lead in the orbital refueling race

China’s recent Shijian-25 satellite mission marks a historic breakthrough in the global space industry by successfully performing the first-ever on-orbit refueling operation in geostationary orbit (GEO). Launched in January 2024 aboard a Long March-3B rocket, Shijian-25 docked with the Shijian-21 satellite—previously used to tow a defunct satellite to a graveyard orbit—demonstrating complex rendezvous, docking, and fuel transfer capabilities. This maneuver, confirmed through satellite tracking by firms such as COMSPOC and S2a despite China’s official silence, represents a pioneering technological feat that has not been publicly achieved by other space agencies like NASA. The significance of this development extends beyond the technical challenge of docking satellites traveling at approximately 17,500 mph. On-orbit refueling is poised to be a game-changer in the renewed space race between China and the United States, offering critical strategic advantages. Militarily,