China launches top secret space plane into orbit

A Long March 2F rocket carrying China's experimental spaceplane lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on December 14 to conduct a scientific experiment.

Simulation of China's Shenlong reusable spacecraft. Photo: Ilkha

The latest launch of the spaceplane comes just seven months after the vehicle’s last mission, much faster than the first two launches, which were 23 months apart, according to SpaceNews. In addition to scientific experiments, China’s spaceplane also provides technical support for the peaceful use of space.

SpaceX delayed the launch of the U.S. Space Force’s reusable X-37B spaceplane hours before the launch in Jiuquan, even moving the Falcon Heavy rocket from the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center. The mission, called USSF-52, was canceled on December 13 to conduct additional system checks. The exact reason for the delay and the new launch date have not been disclosed.

Similar to the X-37B, little is known about the reusable space plane, nicknamed Shenlong. It appears to be used for testing new equipment and orbital operations. The vehicle launches vertically on a rocket, performs its mission, and then lands horizontally on a runway, much like the US space shuttle. Both the X-37B and Shenlong weigh between 5 and 8 tons and are 10 meters long, according to Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at Harvard University who tracks rocket launches and space operations.

Shenlong’s first flight lasted two days and its second flight lasted about nine months, during which the vehicle released an unidentified object into orbit. It could be a small satellite designed to track Shenlong or a service module that is no longer needed.

An Khang (According to Space )

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