China’s Super Secret Space Plane Spotted Flying Over Europe

Amateur satellite observer Felix Schöfbänker captured an experimental Shenlong space plane above Austria. Images showed that the vehicle may have solar panels.

Why So Much Mystery?

Shenlong is a Chinese reusable, uncrewed space plane. Development of the vehicle began in the early 2000s, and only a few pictures have appeared since the first test launch in 2007.

The spacecraft was first launched in September 2020 for a brief, two-day mission. On 4th August 2022, a second launch took place, with the spacecraft returning to Earth on 8th May 2023 after spending 276 days in orbit. During this flight, it deployed at least one object, which may have been a small satellite or a monitoring craft. Its third mission began after launching from a Chinese space agency facility in the Gobi Desert on 14th December 2023. During this current mission, Shenlong has released at least seven objects into orbit, which are believed to be small satellites.

Officially, Shenlong has been developed by China as part of its space programme, aimed at demonstrating reusable space technology. However, since there is so little information about the project and about the spacecraft itself, it is shrouded in rumours and speculation. Some researchers, for instance, suggest that the spacecraft may be used for reconnaissance and weapons testing.

Shenlong is believed to be conceptually similar to the US Air Force’s X-37B space plane. Both spacecraft are designed for reusable spaceflight. However, China maintains complete secrecy regarding the details of the Shenlong programme.

Space Enthusiast May Reveal Some Secrets

For the first time, the secretive spacecraft has been captured on camera. Images taken by space watcher Felix Schöfbänker have revealed some features of the space plane, including what appears to be a pair of solar panels powering the craft. On 30th July, the amateur astronomer used a telescope with a 14-inch mirror and advanced satellite-tracking equipment to observe the space object and film it.

Of course, the footage is grainy, making it difficult to discern all the details, but he spotted something that may be solar panels. However, as this is a previously unseen part of the space plane, he suspects it may be something else.

Based on the images, China’s space plane is about 10 metres long, which is a bit longer than the US Space Force’s Boeing X-37B space plane.

The footage also suggests that the space plane has lowered its orbit to about 350 km above Earth. China maintains secrecy regarding its military and space capabilities, so little information is currently available about the Shenlong space plane, its features, and its capabilities. General observations and analysis suggest that China is pursuing an ambitious and well-funded space programme as a key part of the country’s expanding presence in the space industry.