‘Mysterious’ Chinese spacecraft returns to Earth

The device spent 276 days in orbit

Mysterious Chinese spacecraft returns to Earth after 276 days in orbit. After nearly a year in orbit, the spacecraft returned to Earth, completing a landmark mission to test the country’s reusable space technology, state media reported.

An experimental Chinese spacecraft has returned to Earth after staying in orbit for 276 days, Chinese state media reported. The spacecraft has completed a landmark mission to test the country’s reusable space technology, the report added.

State Chinese media reported that the uncrewed spacecraft returned to the Jiuquan Space Center in northwest China as scheduled.

As noted by Sky News, the spacecraft was first launched by the Chinese in early August 2022, however, no details were provided about what kind of spacecraft it was, what technologies were tested and how high it flew into space.

Images of the ship have also not yet been made public, Sky News emphasizes.

The test marks a “major” breakthrough in China’s research into reusable spacecraft technology, which will provide a more convenient and inexpensive way to launch future space missions, according to state media.

In 2021, a similar spacecraft capable of reaching the edge of the atmosphere took off and returned to Earth on the same day, which China says was a big step towards the development of reusable space transport technology.

According to China’s top space contractor at the time, it landed “horizontally” on Earth.

Some have speculated on social media that Beijing is developing a spacecraft similar to the US Air Force’s X-37B, an autonomous space plane that can stay in orbit for years.

The unmanned reusable X-37B returned to Earth last November on its sixth mission after more than 900 days in orbit.

“This mission [X-37B] highlights the Space Force’s focus on cooperation in space exploration and the expansion of low-cost access to space for our partners, both inside and outside the Department of the Air Force (DAF),” said US General Chance Saltzman, head of space operations.

Last year, China also sent three astronauts to its unfinished space station for six months of construction work, Sky News recalls.

At that time, crew members Chen Dong, Kang Xuzhe, and Liu Yang took to the air and headed towards their mission site.

Last December, the crew returned home safely, in high spirits and joyfully welcoming workers to the landing site.

Chen, who first exited the capsule, said, “I am very fortunate to witness the completion of the basic structure of the Chinese space station after six intense and eventful months in space. Like meteors, we returned to the arms of the motherland.”