A striking image of China's top-secret spaceplane, which bears a close resemblance to the US military's X-37B, has surfaced, offering a rare glimpse into Beijing's advanced space capabilities. Captured by a commercial satellite in 2024, the photo showcases a winged spacecraft featuring delta wings, a payload bay, a heat shield, and solar arrays, essentially mirroring the design of its American counterpart.
The image was taken by Maxar, a company that supplies reconnaissance imagery to US military and intelligence agencies. While lower-resolution views of the Chinese spaceplane had been seen before, this high-resolution shot was released by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) in an unclassified assessment of space threats.
China has reportedly launched four spaceplane missions since 2020, with missions lasting up to nine months. The current mission, launched in February, is still in orbit. In contrast, the US Space Force operates two X-37Bs, with missions extending up to two and a half years. While US officials have been more transparent about the X-37B's design and experiments, much of its activity remains classified, similar to China's program.
Both spaceplanes launch via rocket shroud, operate as satellites, and feature autonomous runway landings. The DIA notes that spaceplanes' enhanced maneuverability makes them ideal for specific missions. China's spaceplane has operated in low-Earth orbit, while the X-37B has reached much higher altitudes. These craft can deploy small satellites and, as China has demonstrated, even recapture objects in orbit using robotic arms.
The official name of China's vehicle is also shrouded in mystery, often referred to as Shenlong in the West but officially designated as Chongfu Shiyong Shiyan Hangtian Qi (reusable experimental spacecraft) by Chinese state media. The ability of commercial companies like Maxar to capture such detailed images in orbit, known as non-Earth imaging (NEI), is an emerging field that offers new avenues for intelligence gathering on classified satellite designs.
The DIA assessment also highlights China's progress in developing counterspace weapons, including directed-energy weapons like lasers, which could be used to disable satellites. China is also reportedly testing anti-satellite missiles and has demonstrated satellite refueling capabilities in high Earth orbits, a feat not achieved by other nations outside of low-Earth orbit. The US is also enhancing its own space capabilities, including orbital weapons, while Russia continues its pursuit of orbital combat programs.
