China detects suspicious device near space center – Information Technology

Researchers working at China’s space center say they found a jammer near the facility just weeks before making plans to send astronauts to the space station.

Shenzhou-14 spacecraft and Long March-2F rocket at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. (Image: Getty)

The device was found in a car near the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Jiangsu Province, about two weeks ago, the Yangtze Evening News reported on May 29.

The space center did not say if the incident was an act of sabotage, but noted that jamming could interfere with navigation systems and cause rockets to deviate.

China plans to send three astronauts to the Tiangong space station by the Shenzhou-14 spacecraft later this week. In this group of astronauts is Li Yang, the first Chinese woman to go to space in 2012.

According to the Yangtze Evening News, scientists at the Jiuquan space center began detecting an “unusual” interference signal earlier this month, so it took days to find.

They found a device attached to a small transmitter, with a maximum range of only nearly 10m. According to the South China Morning Post article, such devices can be easily purchased on e-commerce sites such as Taobao.

Despite its small size, the device can interfere with satellite signals, because satellite signals are inherently weak after traveling about 3,600 meters to reach the ground, said a scientist working at the center.

The Shenzhou-14 spacecraft launch program is proceeding as planned, with facilities and machinery at the Jiuquan Center still “in good condition”, Xinhua reported.

If successful, this trip will begin the final assembly phase of Thien Cung station.

Thien Cung Station consists of 3 modules assembled together. The first module was put into orbit in April 2021.