China’s Super Secretive Space Plane Completes 268-Day Mission: What Was It For?

China’s supersecretive experimental space plane, Shenlong, has returned from orbit after completing its third test mission. According to the South China Morning Post, the space plane successfully touched down at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the Gobi Desert on Friday, 6 September.

During this mission, the spacecraft spent 268 days testing reusable spacecraft technologies. However, the details of the mission, as well as space plane’s payload, remain undisclosed at this time.

What Is The Actual Purpose Of The China’s Space Plane?

The spacecraft launched on 14 December 2023 aboard a Long March-2F rocket. At the moment, the exact purpose of the object remains unclear. However, state media suggest that the tests during this mission were focused on reusable technology and scientific experiments in space.

Overall, this recent test shows important progress for China in developing reusable space technology, as the country works to keep up with the United States in the rapidly growing space industry of the 21st century.

Military Purpose Of Shenlong’s Tests?

U.S. officials and leaders from other countries have raised concerns about the possible military applications of reusable space planes like Shenlong, which could be used to launch satellites or even serve as anti-satellite weapons.

Although China’s experimental space plane remains shrouded in secrecy, it is known that after being launched into orbit by a rocket, the spacecraft can change its position, perform manoeuvres, and carry or deploy unknown payloads.

In August, amateur satellite observer Felix Schöfbänker spotted the experimental Shenlong space plane flying over Austria. Images captured during the observation suggested that the vehicle might have solar panels. Our article explained this further.

Shenlong Space Plane VS X-37B

Shenlong is often compared to the U.S. military’s X-37B, a reusable space plane that began its seventh mission late last year. Notably, the X-37B currently holds the record for the longest time spent in orbit by a reusable spacecraft, with 908 consecutive days in space.

What’s Next For Shenlong Space Plane?

Even though Shenlong’s recent mission is over, future tests are expected to improve the spacecraft’s abilities. These tests will also help us learn more about China’s goals in space, thanks to better tracking by commercial, civilian, and government groups.