China’s new uncrewed spacecraft, Haolong, is poised to bring the idea of a reusable space shuttle back to life. Over ten years after NASA decommissioned its legendary Space Shuttle program in 2011, this ambitious endeavor represents China’s first foray into reusable spaceplane technology. Haolong was created by the Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute with the goal of offering a reasonably priced means of transporting supplies to and from the Tiangong space station. Haolong takes inspiration from Qian Xusen, a Chinese scientist who helped create the first US spaceplanes, despite the fact that China’s aerospace industry is frequently charged with copying American inventions. Qian had a major impact on NASA’s Space Shuttle idea and was a key player at the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the 1940s.
Awarded a contract by the China Manned Space Agency, Haolong will enter its engineering flight verification phase soon. Unlike NASA’s crewed shuttles, Haolong is uncrewed, which will simplify design and reduce operating costs. This reusable winged spacecraft will launch atop a carrier rocket and return via runway landing, mirroring the approach of NASA’s Space Shuttle. However, Haolong’s large wingspan and high lift-to-drag ratio enhance its capacity for carrying substantial payloads—a critical factor as China continues expanding its space operations.
In comparison, NASA’s original Space Shuttle program, launched with the Columbia orbiter in 1981, made history as the first reusable spacecraft. Over 135 missions, it carried more than 800 astronauts to low Earth orbit, demonstrating its versatility despite two tragic accidents in 1986 and 2003, which ultimately influenced NASA’s decision to retire the shuttle.
China’s reusable Haolong and Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser, a US commercial spacecraft in development, signal a renewed interest in spaceplane designs. Qian Xusen’s early US contributions and his later work in China exemplify the complex, shared history of space exploration—highlighting both competition and inspiration across borders.