The US Department of Defense (Pentagon) has published a high-resolution image captured by a commercial imaging company known as Vantor (formerly known as Maxar) of China's secret spacecraft, which bears a strong resemblance to the US military spaceplane X-37B. This image was captured in 2004 by a commercial Earth-observation satellite utilizing off-Earth imaging technology, and was revealed as part of an unclassified intelligence assessment issued by the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) regarding space threats.
Capabilities of the Chinese Spacecraft
The Chinese spacecraft features delta wings, payload bay doors, a dark thermal shield, and a service module equipped with solar panels for power generation, bearing a general design resemblance to the X-37B launched by the US Space Force. Although China has launched four space missions since 2020, the details of its orbital missions remain shrouded in secrecy, and it is often known in the West as Shenlong while official Chinese media refer to it as a reusable experimental spacecraft (CSSHQ).
Astronomical tracking data showed that during its current flight, the Chinese spacecraft performed several operations to release and capture small satellites using a robotic arm, a capability that reflects high orbital flexibility compared to traditional satellites, despite its flights so far being limited to low Earth orbit (LEO).
What This Means for Users and the Tech Sector
The intelligence report highlights the growing capabilities of counterspace operations, noting that China possesses ground-based laser weapons to disable or jam satellites, and is likely to deploy orbital directed-energy systems by the end of the 2020s. This development reflects an accelerated technological race in space that also includes military space programs for both Russia and the United States, clearly altering the nature of cybersecurity and globally relied-upon orbital infrastructure.