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this post was submitted on 06 Dec 2025
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citation requested on any of these claims.
you're claiming that zvezda, which uses UDMH for fuel, has been refueled in orbit. UDMH, a hypergolic rocket fuel.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progress_(spacecraft)#Design
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zvezda_(ISS_module)#Design
https://www.china-in-space.com/p/tianzhou-9-resupply-mission-blasts
https://spacenews.com/chinas-shijian-spacecraft-separate-after-pioneering-geosynchronous-orbit-refueling-tests/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progress_(spacecraft)#Design
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zvezda_(ISS_module)#Design
you realize there's a difference between maneuver thrusters and boosters right? they use the soyuz and crew dragons to boost. they use the hypergolics to maneuver.
https://www.china-in-space.com/p/tianzhou-9-resupply-mission-blasts
"Propellants to refuel Tiangong’s maneuvering and attitude control thrusters are set to be delivered too" this is not boost, this is maneuver.
https://spacenews.com/chinas-shijian-spacecraft-separate-after-pioneering-geosynchronous-orbit-refueling-tests/
this just happened two weeks ago, and if you read the article:
"The separation could mark a successful conclusion to a world-first refueling operation in GEO. However, neither China’s space authorities nor the satellites’ manufacturer have commented on the mission since the launch of Shijian-25 in January."
that COULD is doing heavy lifting, why hasn't the news come out from official sources?
Ah, so they are refuelling Zvezda and Tiangong, but it doesn't count. I acknowledge that they aren't transferring cryo fuels. I just said they're regularly transferring prop.
Zvezda can orbit raise, btw.
https://www.russianspaceweb.com/iss_sm.html
Refuelling Tiangong's xenon hall effect thrusters probably doesn't count, so I guess I'll ignore it.
alright.
it's gonna be a neat trick to watch two spacecraft line up and xfer lox or liquid methane. one part of me wonders if they'll try to erect a sunshade or limit it to night portions of the orbit because trying to figure out the big problem - pumping cryogenic liquids in that env is hard enough without gigantic temp swings on the exteriors and tubes/piping....
I do not think it'll work the first time lol