Hukeda-2, a commercial satellite with a flexible robotic arm like an octopus tentacle, was launched on Monday for low-orbit refuelling tests, state media said. Jointly developed by Hunan University of Science and Technology and Suzhou Sanyuan Aerospace Technology, it will simulate the full process from approach to mock transfer.
On Monday, China launched Hukeda-2, a commercial satellite equipped with a novel flexible robotic arm designed to test low-orbit refuelling technology. State media reported: “Unlike the rigid robotic arms commonly used on space stations, this one is designed more like an elephant’s trunk or an octopus tentacle. It can bend smoothly along its length, making it more flexible and better able to adapt as it approaches a target.” Jointly developed by Hunan University of Science and Technology and Suzhou Sanyuan Aerospace Technology, the satellite will conduct a series of simulated refuelling tests, validating the full process from approach and identification to docking and mock transfer. Hukeda-2 will also test a potential solution for Earth’s increasingly crowded orbits: a device on board that can inflate into an ultralight sphere with a diameter of about 2.5 metres (8 feet). By dramatically increasing atmospheric drag, researchers hope satellites that otherwise would take decades to fall back and burn up will be able to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere within a year. With growing numbers of megaconstellations, like SpaceX’s Starlink, such technologies are set to play a key role in extending satellite lifespans, managing orbital space more efficiently and lowering the cost of operating in space. Cheng Lei, head of research and development at Sanyuan Aerospace, said in-orbit refuelling technology “could transform the space economy”.
