US intelligence image reveals China’s spaceplane during 2024 orbital mission
A US commercial satellite captured China’s secretive spaceplane in orbit in 2024, and a higher-resolution image published in a US intelligence report shows a craft that resembles America’s X-37B. The image offers a rare view of China’s programme, whose missions have grown longer and included apparent tests involving other objects in orbit.
The report says China’s first spaceplane mission launched in 2020 and lasted two days; missions launched in 2022 and December 2023 stayed in orbit for 276 and 268 days respectively. The X-37B, first launched in 2010, has flown eight times and can remain in orbit for years on classified missions. The report says Russia has made little progress with its own spaceplane, while recent close approaches between spacecraft have raised concerns about possible military activity in orbit.
In short
- A 2024 satellite image shows China’s spaceplane in orbit.
- The craft resembles the US X-37B.
- China’s latest two missions lasted 276 and 268 days.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A spaceplane that can stay in orbit for months and interact with other objects could support surveillance, technology testing or other military missions, so its capabilities and activity are relevant to assessing security risks. Greater transparency about China’s programme may help other countries distinguish routine testing from actions that could threaten satellites or create miscalculation.
The case against
Long missions and experiments with nearby objects do not, on their own, establish hostile intent; they can also serve scientific, engineering or dual-use purposes. Publicly framing China’s programme as a threat on the basis of limited imagery and classified activity risks amplifying suspicion, particularly when comparable capabilities are maintained by the United States and other states.
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Originally published by The Register as “China’s spaceplane bears striking resemblance to America’s X-37B”.