The South China Morning Post (April 23) revealed that China has launched at least 10 experimental "scavenger" satellites into space in the last decade. It said Luo Jianjun, Deputy Director of the National Laboratory of Space Flight Dynamics Technology at Northwestern Polytechnical University in Xian, Shaanxi province, confirmed the existence of China’s space scavenger programme last month. Though the programme was partially declassified recently, but Luo Jianjun said most details remained secret because of the technology’s potential military applications. He said “We prefer not to talk about it publicly.” According to a document declassified by the Chinese government in January, China has been testing scavenger satellite technology since 2008. The document said “The project has not only found applications in more than 10 satellite models … but also drones, smart weapons and robots.” The document disclosed that at present, China’s scavenger satellites can only bind to debris rotating no faster than 3.2 degrees a second. The programme was led by Liu Fucheng, Director of the Shanghai Aerospace Control Technology Institute, a subsidiary of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation responsible for developing guidance, navigation and control systems for tactical weapons, rockets and satellites.
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