TJS-10 On-Orbit Behavior
Id: 70
Published: 06/20/2024
Description:
This video shows approximately two weeks of the on-orbit behavior of the Chinese satellite TJS-10 in May 2024. TJS-10 was launched to GEO in November 2023, but the official mission has not been disclosed. Since reaching GEO, TJS-10 has been parked in the vicinity of another Chinese satellite, TJS-3, and in the same plane. Initially TJS-10 was east of TJS-3 by 200-400 km. During May TJS-10 maneuvered to the west of TJS-3, where it has remained, approximately 100 km away. This behavior is very similar to the early operations of TJS-3 with the TJS-3 apogee kick motor (AKM), during the five months of on-orbit testing that followed its launch. Both TJS-3 and TJS-10 are reported to have some sort of communications mission. It was clear from the original TJS-3 on-orbit testing that the AKM was involved. This recent relationship with TJS-10 and TJS-3 implies that TJS-10 may be performing a similar checkout. Note that in the case of TJS-3, the AKM was always to the east of TJS-3. In this recent example, we see TJS-10 operate both east and west of TJS-3.
