What Lies Behind China's Secretive Spacecraft and Its Tests
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Chapter 1: The Enigma of China's Shenlong Spacecraft
China seems to be exploring advanced space technologies through a covert spacecraft. Recently, this vessel deployed an unidentified object, and experts are striving to decipher the purpose of these operations.
According to insights from Reuters, the enigmatic spacecraft appears to function as a testing platform for innovative space technologies. While the official narrative states that the craft is intended for scientific research and the testing of reusable technologies “for peaceful purposes,” the specific goals of this latest mission remain ambiguous. As is often the case with technological innovations, there are concerns that these tests might have military implications, such as assessing or neutralizing potential threats.
Is the Space Arms Race on the Horizon?
On December 14, China’s secretive reusable spacecraft, known as Shenlong (or “Divine Dragon”), embarked on its third mission. This followed the successful return of its second mission, which lasted 276 days, and came three years after the initial two-day test flight in 2020. The unmanned craft was launched into low Earth orbit (altitudes between 333 and 348 km) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Inner Mongolia, as reported by Interesting Engineering.
The Mystery Deepens: Six Unidentified Objects
Just four days after achieving orbit, amateur trackers noted the spacecraft releasing six unidentified objects designated as “OBJECT A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” “E,” and “F.” Some of these objects emitted signals similar to those transmitted by Shenlong during its prior mission in November 2022. In June, the spacecraft was observed releasing another object, subsequently moving several kilometers away before returning to within a few hundred meters of it. The exact nature of this object remains unclear, with some analysts speculating it could relate to satellite technology. “Techniques for grasping and releasing objects are valuable for tasks such as refueling satellites,” remarked Langbroek.
Scott Tilley informed Space.com that “the signals from these objects are sporadic and brief, differing from the consistent emissions observed at the start of the Chinese spacecraft’s earlier missions.” He, along with fellow satellite trackers, has analyzed these signals, believing they originate from the objects themselves or from a nearby source.
This assessment is based on the observed trajectories of the objects, the lack of other known entities in the antenna beams during data collection, and the unique modulation of these signals, which “has only been noted in previous missions of Chinese spacecraft operating at a frequency of 2280 MHz,” according to Scott Tilley.
Despite the intrigue, no images of the spacecraft have been made public, and Chinese authorities have not revealed the technologies being investigated. The Ministry of Defense has not commented on inquiries, while the state news agency Xinhua has referred to it merely as a “reusable test spacecraft.”
This ongoing mission marks the third of its kind. The previous mission, which also involved launching and retrieving an object from space, began in August 2022 and lasted 276 days, as shown by tracking data. The first flight, conducted in September 2020, lasted just two days. Given the extended durations of the recent missions, experts surmise the spacecraft operates without a crew. It is launched using China’s “Long March 2F” rocket.
Tracking information indicates that the spacecraft departs from Jiuquan in northern Central China and lands at an airfield in Lop Nur, Xinjiang, which is associated with a former nuclear testing site, according to astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. The data reveals that the spacecraft adjusts its altitude between approximately 350 kilometers and 600 kilometers.
Similarities with the Boeing X-37B
The unnamed Chinese spacecraft exhibits parallels to the American Boeing X-37B. The missions of the X-37B are also classified, with Boeing only stating that its purpose is to “explore reusable vehicle technologies that support long-term space objectives.”
Stephen Whiting, commander of the U.S. Space Command, asserts that any Chinese space endeavors likely serve dual purposes concerning national security. However, his organization lacks specific information about the objects released by the spacecraft.
A Shift in Mission Dynamics
In summary, experts note that “this iteration of the Chinese spacecraft mission was launched into an orbit similar to the previous two missions.” Nevertheless, “operationally, it demonstrates different radio behaviors compared to earlier missions.” This is due to the “new observations of emissions from objects D and E, which may have gone unnoticed in previous missions if they were also intermittent.”
“We should closely monitor the interactions between Object A and Objects D and E. The latter are on relatively elliptical orbits, whereas Object A maintains an almost circular orbit. In the coming days, these objects will converge at perigee [the point in an orbit closest to Earth],” concludes Scott Tilley.
So far, these objects remain unidentified. They could potentially serve as service modules, test devices for payload deployment, or small satellites designed for monitoring the spacecraft.
Chapter 2: Implications of China's Space Activities
The upcoming section will delve deeper into the implications of China's space endeavors and their potential military applications.
The first video titled "China or the US: Who is winning the new space race? | Mapped Out" explores the competitive dynamics in space exploration between China and the United States, raising questions about technological advancements and national security.
The second video titled "China Develops Shenlong Spaceplane with Mysterious Mission That Raises U.S. Concerns" discusses the implications of China's Shenlong spaceplane and the concerns it raises in the context of U.S. national security.