A photograph of “Shenlong,” the robotic space plane China operates under tight secrecy, has become a major talking point worldwide. Beijing has so far not released a single official image of the vehicle. The picture surfaced in the latest Threat Assessment Report published by the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA).
The image was captured in 2024 by a Maxar Technologies satellite from a distance of roughly 90 kilometres. It shows the spacecraft’s solar panels fully deployed and the payload bay door at the rear of the vehicle open. The space plane also appears to be docked with another satellite in orbit.
Shenlong has been circling in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for the past six years, periodically releasing unidentified objects into space. Its activities have remained a mystery to the international community, and scientists are continuously monitoring it through ground-based radars and tracking systems.
The vehicle closely resembles the US Boeing X-37B. Like the American craft, it is a reusable space plane that enters orbit atop a rocket and lands on a conventional runway once its mission is complete. According to the latest analyses, it is estimated to be about 26 feet long. Its primary objectives are believed to be carrying new payloads into space, conducting experiments and returning safely to Earth.
The space plane is currently on its fourth mission. It was launched on February 7 this year from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center aboard a Long March-2F rocket. The leaked image underscores how rapidly China is expanding its space warfare capabilities.