China uses 'gravitational slingshot' manoeuvres to rescue satellites

Beijing: China successfully rescued two satellites that were stuck in the wrong orbit for 123 days following a launch failure. The statellites were saved using a series of complex gravitational slingshot manoeuvres, CGTN reports.

According to the report, the mission not only preserved critical hardware but also highlighted China's growing expertise in orbital mechanics, space rescue operations, and deep-space navigation technologies.

It was on March 15, 2024, that China launched the two satellites, mounting them on a Long March-2C rocket with a Yuanzheng-1S upper stage. Though the launch appeared successful at first, certain malfunctions in the upper stage made the satellite tumble and head back towards Earth, closer than planned, and conventional measures for recovery were impossible.

Then, the Chinese engineers behind the mission were divided into two teams, and one team worked on stabilizing the satellite while the other focused on calculating a new trajectory using gravitational assistance.

Engineers utilized the gravitational pulls of the Earth, the Moon, and even the Sun to carefully move the satellites back to their desired trajectories. The technique is used in deep space missions and requires only less amount of fuel.

According to the teams behind the mission, a most critical manoeuvre, which lasted just 20 minutes, took them weeks of preparation. The two satellites are a part of the three-satellite constellation, and now the three are positioned in their respective places to form the constellation.