# US Intelligence Report Reveals First Clear Image of China's Shenlong Spaceplane Newly released satellite imagery confirms the secretive Chinese vehicle shares striking design similarities with American counterparts. - **Source:** [Latest from Live Science](https://www.livescience.com/feeds.xml) - **Published:** 2026-10-28 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/340374ec-bd60-47f8-a081-db5950f7daf4 ## Intelligence Report Disclosure The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency released a 130-page report titled Challenges to Security in Space on October 26, 2024. Page 53 features a previously unseen, high-resolution photograph of China's Shenlong spaceplane. Captured by a Maxar Technologies satellite, this image provides the first clear visual evidence of the secretive vehicle's physical configuration. ## Design Parallels with X-37B The imagery reveals that Shenlong bears a striking resemblance to the U.S. Space Force's X-37B spaceplane. Both vehicles feature delta wings, payload bay doors, and dark heat shields. While the overall arrangement is similar, experts note distinct differences in wing geometry, confirming the two spacecraft are not externally identical copies of each other. ## Operational History and Missions Shenlong has accumulated over 800 days in orbit since its initial two-day mission in September 2020. The vehicle has completed two major long-duration flights, including an eight-month stint and a nine-month mission. It currently operates on its fourth mission, having launched via a Long March 2F rocket on February 7, 2024. ## Payload Deployment and Maneuvers During its missions, the spaceplane has deployed at least nine unidentified objects in low Earth orbit. Astronomer Jonathan McDowell observed that the craft may use a robotic arm to retrieve and re-release these payloads. Such behavior suggests the primary objective involves practicing complex rendezvous and proximity operations with other orbiting space assets. ## Identifying the Spacecraft The report identifies the craft as a PRC spaceplane but does not explicitly confirm it is Shenlong rather than the Tengyun design. However, experts favor the Shenlong identification because no confirmed launches of Tengyun exist. Furthermore, existing prototype photos of Tengyun indicate a design that differs significantly from the vehicle captured in orbit. ## Strategic Security Implications The DIA report assesses various factors posing risks to American space assets. While the new image does not establish a direct weapons role for Shenlong, the document warns that China continues to advance counter-space capabilities. Beijing aims to disrupt, damage, or destroy foreign space assets to secure a position as the preeminent leader. ## Technical Capabilities and Function Shenlong functions similarly to NASA's retired space shuttles, utilizing a rocket launch followed by orbital flight and a gliding return to Earth. The vehicle includes a rear-mounted service module equipped with solar arrays for power generation. Its ability to be refueled and relaunched makes it a highly versatile, reusable asset for orbital experimentation. ## Context of Orbital Surveillance Prior to this release, researchers relied on blurry ground-based radar imagery to track the vehicle. The transition to high-resolution satellite photography marks a significant shift in monitoring capabilities. This visual data is essential for understanding China's long-term space strategy and the potential dual-use nature of its secretive orbital maneuvering technologies. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.livescience.com/space/space-exploration/us-intelligence-report-reveals-first-clear-look-at-top-secret-chinese-space-plane-thats-been-dumping-unidentified-objects-above-earth — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._