China launches mysterious ‘space plane’ into space

Agency Xinhua announced the successful launch of an “experimental reusable vehicle” from the Jiuquan Cosmodrome in the Gobi Desert. Details about the launch, the device itself and its mission are extremely scarce. The agency’s report only says that the reusable apparatus was launched into space by the Zhangzheng-2F launch vehicle, and the apparatus itself “will stay in orbit for some time, after which it will return to a given landing point in China.” During the flight, the work of “orbital and return technologies” will be tested in the “interests of the peaceful use of outer space.”

Specialists monitoring the Chinese space program say this is the second such launch since 2020, which they call “mysterious” or “secret”. As noted spacenews.com, the Chinese authorities have not released any photo or video footage regarding the current or previous launches of the device. According to the same NASASpaceflight.comwe are probably talking about a “space plane”, similar in design and idea to the American unmanned orbital test aircraft Boeing X-37which first flew in 2010.

The launch of the Chinese reusable orbiter, experts say, is in line with the Chinese government’s announced program for space exploration, and in particular the development of reusable spacecraft and “space planes.”

Andrey Kelekeyev