China's spaceplane bears striking resemblance to America's X-37B

A clearer picture of China's spaceplane

The US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) published a report that includes a high-resolution photo of China's spaceplane in orbit. A US commercial company, Maxar Technologies, took the picture in 2024. A lower-quality version was shared online almost two years ago, but this one shows more detail. The spaceplane looks very similar to the US Space Force's X-37B.

Key facts about China's spaceplane missions

• China's first spaceplane mission launched in 2020 and stayed in orbit for two days.
• The second mission launched in 2022 and stayed in orbit for 276 days.
• The third mission launched in December 2023 and stayed in orbit for 268 days.
• The last two missions appear to have tested how the craft approaches and meets other objects in orbit.
• The US X-37B has launched eight times since 2010.

What is a spaceplane?

A spaceplane is a craft that flies to space like a rocket and comes back to land like a plane. The US X-37B began as a NASA project in 1999. The US Department of Defense later took it over. It is uncrewed, meaning no people fly on it. It can stay in orbit for years and do secret work. Russia also built a spaceplane, called Buran, but it did not fly many times and the report says Russia has made little progress since.

Why it matters

The report says China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea may threaten space security, at least from a US view. Spaceplanes can test close approaches to other satellites, which could be used for spying or for harm. The article also notes that the US has said it has weapons in space. Earlier this month, a Russian satellite moved close to a US satellite and then pulled away, which worried US lawmakers.

What to watch

• Whether China launches more spaceplane missions and how long they stay in orbit.
• What the approach and meeting tests are really for.
• Whether Russia tries new close-up moves near US satellites.
• How the US responds to growing military activity in space.