Space
China's top-secret spaceplane can't hide in low-Earth orbit
Publication: Space - Ars Technica
Author: Stephen Clark
Source published: 27/10/2026, 22:04:50 UTC
Briefing created: 27/10/2026, 22:09:18 UTC
Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 27/10/2026, 22:08:23 UTC.
Briefings
In 2024, a Chinese spaceplane with delta wings and a rear-mounted service module was photographed orbiting Earth by a US-owned commercial satellite. The spacecraft's design closely resembles the US X-37B, which is a known military asset. The image was captured by Vantor, a company providing reconnaissance imagery to the US military, in 2024.
Key points
- A Chinese spaceplane with delta wings and a rear-mounted service module was photographed orbiting Earth in 2024.
- The spacecraft's design closely resembles the US X-37B, a known military asset.
Context
The image was captured by a US-owned commercial satellite in 2024, revealing a Chinese spaceplane that appears to be a copy of the US X-37B. Vantor, a company providing reconnaissance imagery to the US military, captured the photo.
Limitations
The evidence is limited to a single 2024 photograph and does not include details about the spacecraft's operational history, flight records, or specific mission objectives.
Generated by Bittrees-hosted qwen35-2b sha256:aaf42c8b7c3c on 27/10/2026, 22:09:18 UTC. Based on publisher-provided feed evidence; may not cover the full original article. Check the source for details.
View archived briefing on IPFS
bafybeidij53fa5zhkmbrtelw5jed3x4cu2bycvsyai6emww4xx3focj5iu