COMSPOC Corp.

Supporting the space operations community with software products and services that address current and emerging challenges in the space environment. 🌎🛰️

[COMSPOC_OPS @COMSPOC_OPS]

🛰️ CHANGING OF THE KINGS: China's TJS-17 & TJS-19 swap coverage in GEO

The "Four Kings" (TJS-15, 16, 17, and 19) are classified as Chinese GEO Satellites launched in 2025 to support the PLA's SIGINT and early warning missions.

Over the past month, our team watched two of the "Four Kings" satellites trade places across 40° of the GEO belt, leaving one sitting between Yaogan 41, a GEO surveillance satellite, and a U.S. inspector, USA 270.

TJS-17 (SSC.63524), the "King of the North", held 164.5°E (above the Pacific, just west of Nauru) since Aug 2025. On 29 Sep it raised its orbit ~202 km and began drifting west at ~2.6°/day.

TJS-19 (SSC.63924), the "King of the South", held 141.3°E (above the equator north of New Guinea) since May 2025. On 7 Oct it lowered its orbit ~197 km and began drifting east at ~2.5°/day, toward the slot TJS-17 had just left. The two crossed paths on 8-9 Oct.

TJS-17 stopped its drift on 15 Oct and parked at ~123.5°E, between YAOGAN-41 (SSC.58582) at 123.2°E and GSSAP USA 270 (SSC.41744) at 125.3°E. Its new spot sits above the Molucca Sea, nearly due south of the Philippines and Taiwan.

TJS-19 reached 167.3°E and then burned again on 22 Oct to drift back west at ~0.85°/day. That's an interesting use of fuel, possibly a correction for an overshoot.

Net effect: Western-Pacific coverage at 165°E stays (TJS-19 takes over), 141°E is now empty, and TJS-17 now watches the South China Sea / Taiwan Strait from ~123°E.

A coordinated handoff or a new mission? We'll keep watching.

#Space #GEO #China

[COMSPOC Corp. @COMSPOC]

In a recent article about Astroscale’s proposed “bodyguard” spacecraft, @SPACEdotcom linked to @COMSPOC_OPS' Oct. 24 post about COSMOS 2612’s close approach to ICEYE X36.

Read the article: https://t.co/QNusXDGkZw

[COMSPOC_OPS @COMSPOC_OPS]

COSMOS 2612 (SSC.68762) walks up to ICEYE-X36 (SSC.59103)

In July we posted on the Cosmos 2609–2614 group. Back then we flagged COSMOS 2612 as the satellite best placed to reach ICEYE-X36. Three months later, it did.

Analysis via COMSPOC SSA.

On 1 October COSMOS 2612 raised its orbit ~47 km. The higher orbit gave it a fast catch-up drift, and it passed ICEYE-X36 at ~55 km on 5 October and again on 12 October. Within about two hours of the second pass it made two retrograde burns (~27 m/s total) and dropped back to ICEYE-X36’s altitude, ~515 km behind it. Between 13 and 16 October seven small burns (~5 m/s total) closed that gap.

By 16 October COSMOS 2612 was in ICEYE-X36’s plane (within 0.003°) and at its altitude. Since the two share a plane, there are no plane crossings to wait for. From 16–18 October they spent ~24 hours within 2 km of each other and ~12 hours within 1 km. First pass was ~220 m (max uncertainty ~490 m) near 14:03 UTC on 16 October. It then held 2–4 km behind before drawing level on 17 October and settling into a centred safety ellipse around ICEYE-X36, which it held for the rest of the day. Closest pass in our solution was ~60 m (max uncertainty ~950 m) near 14:18 UTC. By late on 17 October it had drifted ~2 km ahead, then trimmed back for a third pass at ~260 m (max uncertainty ~160 m) near 01:58 UTC on 18 October. Relative speed at the closest points was 0.15–0.9 m/s, walking pace or slower. Slow walk-past, not a fly-by . ICEYE-X36 did not maneuver.

COSMOS 2612 burned away at 12:30 UTC on 18 October, braked on 19 October, and is now holding ~480 km from ICEYE-X36 in the same orbit.

We’ve seen this sequence before. COSMOS 2581, 2582 and 2583 (SSC.62902/62903/62904) have been running it against each other since February 2025: raise, phase, drop to co-altitude, close at under half a meter per second, hold, depart, loiter. Since August 2025 we’ve logged more than 170 sub-km conjunction events within that trio, several down to single-digit meters. Until now, every target had been one of their own. This is the first non-cooperative one.

@planet4589
@shell_jim
@IntegrityISR
@ObservableSpace

[COMSPOC Corp. @COMSPOC]

See what else we’re up to at TASTI and schedule a meeting with our team ➡️ https://t.co/63bJH3AJrm

[COMSPOC Corp. @COMSPOC]

COMSPOC will be at #TASTI2026! Join us Nov. 8-11 at ICC Tainan in Taiwan.

We’re pleased to sponsor this year’s Taiwan International Assembly of Space Science, Technology, and Industry.

Visit us at booth W142 to see how precise maneuver detection and characterization are essential to producing actionable insight.

Thank you to @TASA_Taiwan and Tainan City Government for organizing this year’s event.

[COMSPOC_OPS @COMSPOC_OPS]

COSMOS 2612 (SSC.68762) walks up to ICEYE-X36 (SSC.59103)

In July we posted on the Cosmos 2609–2614 group. Back then we flagged COSMOS 2612 as the satellite best placed to reach ICEYE-X36. Three months later, it did.

Analysis via COMSPOC SSA.

On 1 October COSMOS 2612 raised its orbit ~47 km. The higher orbit gave it a fast catch-up drift, and it passed ICEYE-X36 at ~55 km on 5 October and again on 12 October. Within about two hours of the second pass it made two retrograde burns (~27 m/s total) and dropped back to ICEYE-X36’s altitude, ~515 km behind it. Between 13 and 16 October seven small burns (~5 m/s total) closed that gap.

By 16 October COSMOS 2612 was in ICEYE-X36’s plane (within 0.003°) and at its altitude. Since the two share a plane, there are no plane crossings to wait for. From 16–18 October they spent ~24 hours within 2 km of each other and ~12 hours within 1 km. First pass was ~220 m (max uncertainty ~490 m) near 14:03 UTC on 16 October. It then held 2–4 km behind before drawing level on 17 October and settling into a centred safety ellipse around ICEYE-X36, which it held for the rest of the day. Closest pass in our solution was ~60 m (max uncertainty ~950 m) near 14:18 UTC. By late on 17 October it had drifted ~2 km ahead, then trimmed back for a third pass at ~260 m (max uncertainty ~160 m) near 01:58 UTC on 18 October. Relative speed at the closest points was 0.15–0.9 m/s, walking pace or slower. Slow walk-past, not a fly-by . ICEYE-X36 did not maneuver.

COSMOS 2612 burned away at 12:30 UTC on 18 October, braked on 19 October, and is now holding ~480 km from ICEYE-X36 in the same orbit.

We’ve seen this sequence before. COSMOS 2581, 2582 and 2583 (SSC.62902/62903/62904) have been running it against each other since February 2025: raise, phase, drop to co-altitude, close at under half a meter per second, hold, depart, loiter. Since August 2025 we’ve logged more than 170 sub-km conjunction events within that trio, several down to single-digit meters. Until now, every target had been one of their own. This is the first non-cooperative one.

@planet4589
@shell_jim
@IntegrityISR
@ObservableSpace

[COMSPOC Corp. @COMSPOC]

ICYMI: COMSPOC is featured in “Space Wars,” a @novapbs documentary that premiered earlier this month on Oct. 7 on @PBS.

The documentary examines the escalating military struggle to control space, the threats facing satellites we rely on, and what can be done to protect them. Learn about the technology and strategy of a rapidly developing arms race and hear how experts are wrestling with the implications of this looming conflict.

Watch online ➡️ https://t.co/vjt8LFtCbY

#NOVAPBS #SpaceWars

[COMSPOC Corp. @COMSPOC]

Attending the forum? Contact us to arrange a time to meet with Jim: https://t.co/n3mGRH3L1u

[COMSPOC Corp. @COMSPOC]

Jim Cooper, COMSPOC’s government relations manager, will attend @NSSASpace's International Security Space Forum 2026, Oct. 20-21 in Arlington, Virginia.

The forum will bring together senior government, military and industry leaders from the U.S. and allied nations to discuss strengthening partnerships, improving interoperability, and addressing evolving security challenges in space.

[COMSPOC Corp. @COMSPOC]

This insightful commentary from Clayton Swope and Chantal Li of @CSIS underscores the fact that detecting and characterizing maneuvers, accurately and quickly, isn't just the concern of advanced militaries. Any spacefaring nation — whether through civil, military, or commercial missions — needs exquisite space domain awareness to protect their interests.
https://t.co/Vkc22ELYEY

[COMSPOC Corp. @COMSPOC]

Last week at IAC 2026 in Turkey, COMSPOC’s Dan Oltrogge, Jim Cooper, and Navapan Khunnasarn spoke with Jordan Wright of @Astro_Angry about gaps in collision avoidance and how more accurate SSA, data sharing, and commercial capabilities can help. They also discussed research on the potential atmospheric impacts of satellite reentry.

Thank you to Jordan for the conversation and for helping bring attention to these challenges.

▶️ Watch the interview: 
https://t.co/dl3Jw648C6

[COMSPOC Corp. @COMSPOC]

Congratulations to @SpaceDavenport on winning the 2026 Gerald @LoebAwards in the explanatory category for his series in @washingtonpost, “The Militarization of Space”!

COMSPOC was pleased to contribute to one of the articles in the series. Using SSASuite, our operations team provided data and analysis that helped The Washington Post reconstruct specific encounters between U.S. and Chinese military satellites for its readers.

[COMSPOC Corp. @COMSPOC]

See the highlights and continue the conversation with our team: https://t.co/Pgzpqzbe7n

[COMSPOC Corp. @COMSPOC]

Last week, the COMSPOC team joined the global space community at #IAC2026 in Antalya, Turkey! 🚀

We welcomed visitors to our booth to discuss our space situational awareness software products, as well as our latest research — including papers presented at the conference by Navapan Khunnasarn and Dan Oltrogge.🛰️

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth or attended our presentations. #IAC2026Antalya

[COMSPOC Corp. @COMSPOC]

COMSPOC is featured in “Space Wars,” a new @novapbs documentary examining the escalating military struggle to control space, the threats facing satellites we rely on, and what can be done to protect them. Learn about the technology and strategy of a rapidly developing arms race and hear how experts are wrestling with the implications of this looming conflict. 🌌

“Space Wars” premieres tonight at 9 p.m. ET on @PBS and online ➡️ https://t.co/vjt8LFtCbY

[COMSPOC Corp. @COMSPOC]

Learn more about COMSPOC at IAC: https://t.co/PgzpqzaGhP

[COMSPOC Corp. @COMSPOC]

The COMSPOC team is in Antalya, Turkey, this week for @IAC2026Antalya! We’re meeting with members of the global space community and sharing how our commercial-off-the-shelf SDA platform delivers decision-quality information for space operations.

If you’re attending, stop by Booth 2G-03 in Hall 2 to meet the team. #IAC2026 #IAC2026Antalya

[COMSPOC Corp. @COMSPOC]

It’s @WorldSpaceWeek, the largest annual event celebrating achievements in space science and technology.

This year’s theme, “Rocket Revolution,” highlights the advances that are changing how we reach space and the people behind them. We recognize the scientists, engineers, operators, educators, and students whose work continues to expand our access to space. 🚀🌌 #WorldSpaceWeek

[COMSPOC Corp. @COMSPOC]

Schedule a meeting with our team in advance: https://t.co/PgzpqzaGhP

[COMSPOC Corp. @COMSPOC]

COMSPOC will be at @IAC2026Antalya in Antalya, Turkey, Oct. 5-9. Visit us at booth 2G-03 in Hall 2 to meet the team and learn how our commercial-off-the-shelf SDA platform delivers decision-quality information for space operations.

Operational systems engineer Navapan Khunnasarn will present “ Large Constellation Re-entry and Stratospheric Impact: A Decision Criterion for the Detection-Commitment Gap,” on Oct. 8 at 4:20 p.m. Chief scientist Dan Oltrogge will present “Assessing Effectiveness of Mainstream Probability-Based Collision Avoidance” on Oct. 9 at 2:45 p.m.

[COMSPOC Corp. @COMSPOC]

We love hosting guests at our Exton HQ, and unlike Benjamin Franklin we don't think that more than three days is too long. That's why we're excited to welcome @FACh_Chile (Chilean Air Force) aviadors Matias Araya and Diego Becerra for two months of SDA training and lots of expertise and cultural exchange.

Also pictured, @ItalianAirForce Maj. Gen. (Ret.) and @esa astronaut Roberto Vittori and COMSPOC VP Mike Wasson.