Space Force Detects Unknown Object In Orbit Alongside Chinese Satellite

US space tracking has detected an object orbiting alongside a satellite recently launched by China, but its exact purpose remains a mystery. The Shijian-21 space debris mitigation technology satellite was successfully launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province on October 23. After being launched into space by a Long March-3B carrier rocket and entering orbit as planned, Shijian-21 is set to spend most of its time testing and verifying debris mitigation technologies. The craft was developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST), but otherwise not much is known about the satellite, with details…