#2020 at 09:48AM

[usafphantom2]

China's mysterious reusable space plane lands after 276 days in orbit

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 05/08/2023 - 09:48am Space

China's reusable secret space plane completed its second mission on Monday, landing after 276 days in orbit.

China's state media and the manufacturer of the spacecraft, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. (CASC), announced that the spacecraft landed at the end of May 8, Beijing time.

The seemingly successful mission was considered an important advance in the country's research on reusable spacecraft technology. No image, landing time or location was revealed by the developers.

The project will provide a more convenient and cheaper way to access the space for the peaceful use of the space in the future, according to the statement.

Artistic conception of the Chinese spacecraft.

The reusable test spacecraft was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert on August 4 (UTC) 2022.

The spacecraft launched an object into orbit, according to U.S. Space Force tracking data revealed at the end of last year. The small satellite operated very close to the space plane.

U.S. Air Force X-37B spacecraft.

This apparent second flight in the secret spacecraft differs from its first mission in 2020. This flight saw the space plane orbit for four days in an orbit of 331 to 347 kilometers inclined by 50 degrees. The recently completed mission lasted 276 days, with the spacecraft entering an initial orbit of 346 to 593 kilometers inclined by 50 degrees, then circularing the orbit from 597 to 608 kilometers.

The spacecraft performed numerous small and much larger orbital maneuvers during its flight, with adjustments made in recent weeks in preparation for landing.

The mysterious track near Lop Nor. (Photo: 2020 PLANET LABS)

It is likely that the landing took place at the military base of Lop Nur, in Xinjiang. Information about the spacecraft's orbit suggests that an orbital trail over the installation around 0020 UTC provided the opportunity for landing, according to Jonathan McDowell, astrophysicist and spaceflight activity tracker.

An image of an Umbra synthetic aperture radar satellite suggests recent activity at the Lop Nur site.

China has released little information about the project. The size and mass of the spacecraft are, however, limited by the use of the Long March 2F rocket, which can transport just over 8 tons to low Earth orbit.

Clues about the dimensions and shape of the ship appeared soon after launch, when apparent images of the cargo fairing for the mission appeared online.

The spacecraft seems to be related to the development of an orbital segment of a two-stage space transport system for fully reusable orbit. A suborbital segment - with vertical takeoff and horizontal landing - had a second flight in September 2022.

The CASC reusable space plane project last year obtained national funding from the China Natural Sciences Foundation.

CASIC, a giant sister defense and space contractor, is working on her own space plane, called Tengyun.

Images that emerged in 2007 of a possible prototype of a Chinese reusable space plane, known as Shenlong, under an H-6 bomber.

Meanwhile, a trading company called Space Transportation raised more than $46.3 million for its hypersonic spacecraft plans in 2021. Several Chinese rocket companies have also created presentations, including small space planes launched on liquid rocket concepts.

China has sought to increase its access to space in a variety of ways in recent years, including the promotion of a commercial space sector that now features a variety of solid and developing reusable liquid propellant reusable launch vehicles.

CASC, the country's main space contractor, is developing new super-heavy reusable launch vehicles that allow the country to try to land astronauts on the moon and a eventually fully reusable rocket to conduct large-scale space infrastructure missions.

Tags: ChinaSpace

Fernando Valduga

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Daytona Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. Uses Canon equipment during his photographic work around the world of aviation.

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