China's secret reusable spaceship spotted in US intelligence report: What we know about this mysterious plane and its mission

A newly declassified US intelligence report has confirmed that a satellite image shows China's experimental reusable spaceplane in orbit, offering a closer look at a secretive spacecraft whose design resembles the US Space Force's X-37B. Released by the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) on October 26, the image has renewed interest in China's expanding space capabilities and the potential military applications of reusable spacecraft.

The higher-resolution photograph was captured by a satellite operated by Maxar Technologies, now known as Vantor, and included in the DIA's latest unclassified assessment of security challenges in space. Although a lower-resolution version had circulated publicly since 2024, the spacecraft's identity had not been confirmed at the time.

The image shows a compact, shuttle-like vehicle with wings, twin vertical tails, an open payload bay and a rear-mounted module with solar panels deployed on either side. Its overall configuration resembles the American X-37B, although the Chinese spacecraft appears to have longer wings.


"A key capability for reusable space activities are spaceplanes like this PRC [People's Republic of China] Spaceplane captured by Maxar. Spaceplanes can launch into orbit to place objects in space or even test them and return to earth [sic]," the caption accompanying the photograph in the DIA report states.

However, the report does not disclose the exact date or circumstances of the satellite observation. The image carries a 2024 copyright date, placing it within the period of China's third orbital mission.

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China has conducted four spaceplane missions since 2020

China is understood to have conducted four orbital missions using its experimental reusable spaceplane since 2020. The latest mission began on February 7, 2026, and the spacecraft remained in orbit according to the latest available information in the source material.

The vehicle has attracted attention because of its reported activities involving smaller objects in orbit. During its third mission, which lasted from December 14, 2023, to September 6, 2024, the spacecraft was observed releasing multiple smaller objects. Their identities and purposes remain unknown.

Open-source orbital tracking data analysed by astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell also indicated that the spacecraft involved in the latest mission released and subsequently recaptured a smaller object during a series of orbital operations.

These activities suggest that the vehicle can interact with other objects in space, although its precise mission objectives remain undisclosed.

The spacecraft is commonly referred to as Shenlong in Western reports, but its official designation has not been definitively established. The DIA report identifies two primary Chinese spaceplane models, Shenlong and Tengyun, without specifying which one appears in the photograph.

China's Shenlong programme has been discussed publicly since at least 2007, when images emerged of what was believed to be a prototype mounted beneath an H-6 bomber. Separately, the state-run China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation unveiled its Tengyun reusable spaceplane concept in 2016. Whether its planned 2025 test took place remains unclear.

How China's spaceplane compares with America's X-37B

The Chinese vehicle shares several visible design features with the US Space Force's X-37B, including a winged body, payload bay and configuration designed for reusable orbital operations.

The United States has built two X-37B vehicles, which have completed eight orbital missions since 2010. The uncrewed spacecraft carries experiments and payloads into orbit before returning to Earth for recovery and refurbishment. Much of its operational activity remains classified.

China's experimental vehicle is also understood to launch aboard a conventional rocket before conducting orbital operations and returning to Earth for a runway landing. A secretive Chinese airbase in the country's northwest, featuring an exceptionally long runway, has been identified in reporting as a possible landing site.

However, the available satellite image does not establish whether the Chinese spacecraft carries weapons or is intended for offensive military missions.

DIA warns of growing competition in space

The DIA assessment places reusable spaceplanes within a broader examination of China's expanding space and counterspace capabilities.

The report notes that "spaceplanes are … reusable and feature enhanced maneuverability, making them more suitable for certain missions than traditional satellites".

Such vehicles could potentially deploy small satellites, conduct experiments, inspect other spacecraft and return payloads to Earth. Their ability to manoeuvre and approach other objects also gives them capabilities that conventional satellites may find difficult to replicate.

The report also highlights China's development of ground-based laser weapons that could disrupt, degrade or damage satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO).

"China has multiple ground-based laser weapons with varying power levels to disrupt, degrade, or damage satellites in LEO," the DIA said. It added that by the late 2020s, China may field more powerful ground-based and space-based directed energy systems capable of threatening satellites in higher orbits.

The assessment also discusses China's anti-satellite missile testing, satellite servicing and refuelling technologies, and robotic systems that could potentially interact with spacecraft.

The newly released image offers a clearer look at China's experimental spaceplane, but its exact identity, payloads and military objectives remain unknown. Its resemblance to the X-37B and reported orbital manoeuvres highlight the growing role of reusable spacecraft in the competition between major powers in space.