The craft has more or less 30 feet (10 meters) in length, which would make it longer than the American X-37B space plane operated by the U.S. Space Force.
Two solar panels that can be seen at the end.
www.space.com/china-space-plane-caught-on-camera
China’s secretive reusable spaceplane lands after 267 days in orbit
China launched the spacecraft from Jiuquan spaceport on a Long March 2F rocket for the third time Dec. 14. That event took place two weeks ahead of the launch of the U.S. X-37B spaceplane on a Falcon Heavy rocket into an undisclosed orbit. China’s spaceplane is thought to be analogous to the X-37B.
Xinhua issued a brief report on Sept. 5 (Eastern), confirming the spacecraft’s return to Earth. The report provided no images, nor information regarding the mission and its landing site.
The “success of the experiment demonstrates the growing maturity of China’s reusable spacecraft technologies, which will pave the way for more convenient and affordable round-trip methods for the peaceful use of space in the future,” the report read.
spacenews.com/chinas-secretive-reusable-spaceplane-lands-after-267-days-in-orbit/
China’s mysterious Shenlong space plane has released an unidentified object in orbit — the seventh such object released in the past six months. The U.S. Space Force is monitoring the situation.
Shenlong (which means “Divine Dragon”) deployed six smaller objects shortly after launch last year; each appeared to be emitting some kind of signal.
At around 3 p.m. ET on May 24, China’s mysterious Shenlong space plane released an unidentified flying object 372 miles (600 kilometers) above Earth’s surface.
www.livescience.com/space/space-exploration/chinas-secret-space-plane-has-released-another-unknown-object-over-earth
AC
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