China’s secretive spaceplane has recently garnered international attention after being observed releasing and retrieving an object during its third mission. This activity has sparked curiosity about the spaceplane’s capabilities and purpose. During the mission in June, the spacecraft released an object, moved several kilometers away, and then returned to within a few hundred meters of it, according to Reuters.
Marco Langbroek, a lecturer on optical space situational awareness at Delft University of Technology, suggests that the spacecraft likely has military applications, such as inspecting or potentially disabling enemy objects. However, he also notes non-military uses, such as the potential to refuel satellites, making it a valuable technology for both military and civilian purposes.
“But it also has non-military applications. Gaining experience with this kind of grab and release is good if you want to for instance … refuel your own satellites,” Langbroek said.
Langbroek and other experts highlight that a reusable spacecraft capable of interfering with complex satellite networks could be of significant value, especially as military advancements in these systems continue globally.
Despite the interest, China has not disclosed the specific technologies tested on the spaceplane, and it has not been publicly photographed since its operation began. Comparisons are drawn with the U.S.’s uncrewed Boeing X-37B spaceplane, launched in 2010, and Russia’s recent satellite launches, suspected of having military capabilities. Victoria Samson, of the Secure World Foundation think tank, believes China’s spaceplane is likely testing technologies similar to the X-37B, though she doubts both have substantial military utility, viewing them as technology demonstrators.
“I don’t think that either has a whole lot of military utility, to be honest. I am guessing that both are technology demonstrators,” Samson noted.
General Stephen Whiting, commander of U.S. Space Command, underscores the dual-use nature of China’s space activities, acknowledging uncertainty about the specific objects released by the spaceplane. The Chinese state media describes the vehicle as a “reusable test spacecraft,” emphasizing its potential for future technological advancements.
“Any space activity that they undertake, we assume has some dual use in the national security realm. We’re always interested in understanding what could that dual use be, and trying to make sure that we have a good knowledge of that,” Whiting remarked.
Tracking data indicates the spaceplane launches from Jiuquan in north-central China and lands at an airfield in Lop Nur, Xinjiang. It is believed to be similar in size and shape to the X-37B, with an approximate length of 30 feet (9.14 meters) and capable of extended missions. The spaceplane’s experiments mirror those conducted by the X-37B, focusing on exploring reusable vehicle technologies and returning experiments from space.
