Key facts
- A winged Chinese spacecraft, resembling the US X-37B, was photographed in orbit in 2024.
- The image was released by the Defense Intelligence Agency in an unclassified threat assessment.
- China has conducted four spaceplane missions since 2020, with the current one launched in February.
- The spaceplane can deploy small satellites and has demonstrated the ability to recapture objects in orbit.
- The DIA also noted China's development of directed-energy weapons for disabling satellites.
A winged Chinese spacecraft, bearing a strong resemblance to the US military’s X-37B spaceplane, was photographed in orbit in 2024 by a US-owned commercial satellite. The image was released by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) on Monday as part of an unclassified assessment of threats to the United States in space. The Chinese spaceplane, often referred to as Shenlong, features delta wings, a payload bay, a dark heat shield, and solar arrays, mirroring the design of the X-37B. China has conducted four spaceplane missions since 2020, with durations of up to nine months, and the current mission launched in February. The DIA report highlights that spaceplanes offer enhanced maneuverability over traditional satellites and can deploy smaller satellites from their cargo bays. China has also demonstrated the ability to catch and recapture objects in orbit. The DIA assessment also noted China's development of directed-energy weapons (DEWs) for counterspace applications, with potential for space-based systems by the late 2020s, and its testing of anti-satellite missiles and satellite refueling capabilities.