【By Observer Net Columnist Bai Yujing】

U.S. provocation, Chinese countermeasures, have become the key buzzwords of 2025. Whether it's the soybean war or the dispute over port fees for ships, the U.S. has never gained any advantage. What is less known is that, in the distant space, China has also launched a silent and sharp countermeasure — space mutual photography.

This year, Maxar Technologies' "WorldView Legion" satellites first released high-definition photos of China's space station and in-orbit satellites, and proudly claimed that the imaging effect was "unprecedented, with every detail clearly visible." Its spatial resolution is better than 10 centimeters, almost allowing one to see every structural detail of the spacecraft. This capability holds immense value in both scientific research and military fields.

Maxar Technologies' "WorldView Legion" satellite captured the International Space Station (top) and the Tiangong space station (bottom). Source: Maxar Technologies

In fact, this has become a new business for American companies: adjusting the remote sensing lenses originally aimed at Earth toward space targets, serving mainly the White House and the Pentagon.

Recently, Chang Guang Satellite Technology Company quietly responded by publicly releasing high-definition images taken by the "Jilin No. 1" to capture the "WorldView Legion" satellites of Maxar Technologies. While they were secretly taking photos of China, we took direct "evidence," turning the situation into a perfect satire and realistically revealing the confrontation and counter-confrontation in space.

Maxar Technologies' "WorldView Legion" satellite captured China's "Shijian-26" satellite. Source: Maxar Technologies

When Remote Sensing Satellites Turn Their Eyes to Space

In the public's mind, the mission of remote sensing satellites is to "look at Earth": capturing farmland harvests, disaster scenes, city nightscapes, and even military facilities. But when these satellites turn their lenses away from Earth and aim at other spacecraft in space, they enter a completely new field — Non-Earth Imaging (NEI). As the name suggests, NEI uses remote sensing satellites to image orbital targets, shifting the focus from farmlands and buildings to space stations and satellites.

This sounds like a scene from a science fiction novel, but in reality, it is rapidly becoming a new frontier in space technology and strategic competition. The number of spacecraft in outer space is increasing exponentially, with more than 12,000 satellites currently operating in low Earth orbit, and it is expected to exceed 50,000 within the next decade. Traditional ground-based telescopes and radars are already struggling to meet the requirements of "seeing clearly, distinguishing accurately, and tracking effectively." The emergence of NEI allows humans to observe orbits from orbit for the first time, truly achieving "seeing space from space."

Different from Earth imaging, the technical challenge of NEI lies in the fact that the target itself is also moving at high speed. The relative speed between two satellites in low Earth orbit can reach several kilometers per second. Without accurate orbital predictions and flexible attitude control, the camera would only capture a blur of light. To successfully image, it is necessary to accurately calculate the trajectory of the other party, maneuver the satellite in a very short time, stabilize the orientation, and use high dynamic imaging technology similar to HDR to clearly capture the details of the spacecraft. This requires the integration of multiple capabilities such as aerospace control, optical detection, and image processing.

Its importance is first reflected in safety management. The surge in the number of satellites directly brings about "space traffic." Who is passing by whom in orbit, which satellite may fail and become space debris, all need real-time monitoring. Through NEI, it is possible to "examine" spacecraft, clearly seeing its shape, attitude, and whether there is any damage, thus providing the basis for avoiding collisions and formulating avoidance plans. As space refueling, maintenance, and upgrades gradually become new directions in space development, NEI can also play a role in "remote inspection." Space refueling carries high risks, and if the interface and deployment status of the target can be clearly photographed before docking, it can greatly reduce the probability of accidents.

The "Jilin No. 1" successfully "photographed evidence," capturing the International Space Station (top) and Maxar's "WorldView Legion" satellite (bottom). Source: Chang Guang Satellite

Having to "Photograph Evidence"

However, on the level of great power strategy, NEI has even greater sensitivity. In the past, people often worried about what "the other side" had deployed in orbit. Now, this worry has a new solution: any spacecraft launched into space may be "photographed" by another country's satellites. This transparency is both a security guarantee and a strategic deterrent. For major powers, it is equivalent to opening up a new intelligence channel, fundamentally changing the landscape of space rivalry.

It is not just a matter of a photo, but a clear political and strategic demonstration. In the field of aerospace, who can "see" the other side, has an information advantage and controls the initiative. Maxar packages these photos as technological breakthroughs and commercial promotions, while releasing them to the public and policy circles. The real mastermind behind it is the White House and the Pentagon. Its implicit message is clear: every external detail of China's aerospace vehicles is clearly visible to the United States.

In this context, if China remains silent, it will be at a disadvantage. On one hand, this means the U.S. has exclusive narrative power in "space situational awareness," creating a psychological advantage where only the U.S. can see others, while others cannot see the U.S. On the other hand, this one-way dissemination will create an impression in the international public opinion arena — that China's space station and satellites are completely transparent, while U.S. spacecraft are out of reach. In contrast, China's image will be passively weakened. Therefore, "taking photos back" is not an optional choice, but a necessary strategic response.

This response is not a sudden idea, but based on long-term capability accumulation.

The "Jilin No. 1" constellation, since its first launch in 2015, has completed dozens of launches, deploying more than 140 satellites, becoming the world's largest sub-meter commercial remote sensing constellation. Its basic function is Earth observation, but in fact, it has shown cross-domain capabilities. A few years ago, Jilin No. 1 successfully captured the U.S. aircraft carrier sailing in the ocean, and even took pictures of the F-22 stealth fighter flying at high altitude. These cases show that it has reached world-leading levels in high-speed target capture, dynamic imaging, and complex environment imaging. Today, when Jilin No. 1 turns its lens to U.S. satellites in space, it is actually a natural extension of this mature capability.

More notably, NEI is not a novelty, but a key factor in future space rivalry. Traditional remote sensing focuses on Earth observation, but in the future space security framework, the imaging and monitoring of space objects fall under the scope of "Space Situational Awareness" (SSA). Who can accurately identify, track, and assess the attitude, structure, and operational status of the opponent's orbital spacecraft, can gain a preemptive advantage in potential conflicts. Maxar's photos have shown the world that the U.S. has this capability, and China's response also signals to the world that we can not only see everything on Earth, but also see the other side in space. This is a technological declaration, and more importantly, a strategic signal.

"Jilin No. 1" constellation diagram. Source: Chang Guang Satellite

Conclusion

The emergence of NEI has made orbital space visible for the first time. It is not only a new tool for aerospace research, but also a new weapon for national security and strategic rivalry. From space safety management to military deterrence, from business models to industrial chain expansion, the weight of NEI is rapidly increasing. Whoever masters this capability will have a bigger stake in the future space competition.

NEI is not only of military and strategic significance, but it is also quietly opening up a new market in commercial aerospace. Taking Maxar in the U.S. as an example, the company has repeatedly released high-resolution photos of the International Space Station. Such images not only spark heated discussions in professional circles, but are also widely shared by media and the public, becoming a living advertisement for demonstrating satellite performance. For investors and government clients, these images intuitively prove the satellite's resolution and capturing ability, thereby giving rise to a unique commercial pathway.

For research and popular science institutions, NEI images also have value. Space stations and in-orbit satellites are among the most complex engineering projects of human aerospace. By observing them in reality, they can provide references for academic research and become excellent materials for aerospace education, exhibitions, and displays. More importantly, these images have scarcity and visual impact, naturally suitable for commercial dissemination and international brand building.

The latest action of "Jilin No. 1" is not only a response to the U.S., but also signifies that China's commercial aerospace has new imaginative space in this field. In the future, NEI could potentially become a dual market: on one hand, providing space situational awareness for national strategies, and on the other hand, delivering highly communicable image products to society and industry. This model of "strategy and business running parallel" may be the new footnote in the space competition between China and the U.S.

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Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7564211467621335588/

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