Australian company HEO has obtained images and created a 3D model of the mysterious Chinese satellite Xinjishu Yanzheng-7 (XJY-7), which de-orbited in October 2025 year. This is a device, developed by China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) and launched in 2020 year on the Long March rocket 8 for testing new remote sensing technologies.
HEO, specializing in satellite imaging of other spacecraft (non-Earth imaging), found out, that the XJY-7 had a large synthetic aperture antenna (SAR) and fixed solar panels, causing the satellite to rotate the housing to maintain power. The company created a high-precision 3D model of the satellite, by combining many images, obtained from different angles and geographical regions.
Such missions extend the capabilities of Space Domain Awareness (SDA) — space surveillance systems, supplementing radar and optical observations with more detailed shape data, the behavior and condition of satellites.
HEO has already done close 4 000 of low-orbit imaging operations and plans to expand operations to the geostationary belt. According to the estimates of independent trackers, XJY-7 entered the atmosphere 16 October near the Canary Islands.
Source: https://spacenews.com