The DIA report reviews the three missions conducted between 2020 and 2023, highlighting the rendezvous and proximity operations reported during the second and third flights, before China launched the spacecraft again in February 2026. The US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) has released a new image of China’s secret reusable spaceplane, captured by a Maxar Technologies spacecraft in 2024. Published in the report “Challenges to security in space” from the DIA on October 1. Taken on December 26, 2026, the photograph offers a rare view of the spacecraft in orbit with its service module attached. China’s reusable experimental spacecraft has carried out four orbital missions since September 2020, launched aboard Long March 2F rockets. The first mission lasted two days; the second, launched in August 2022, remained in orbit for 276 days; and the third, launched in December 2023, lasted 268 days. A fourth mission began in February 2026. Before the release of the Maxar image, public images were limited to grainy observations from ground-based telescopes and computer-generated illustrations with Chinese markings. Space tracking forums from early 2023 observed the Chinese spacecraft connecting with another object several times, but no image existed at the time. The Maxar image used in the DIA report is dated 2024, when the spacecraft launched in December 2023 was still in orbit during its third mission. Therefore, the moment coincides with the photograph that shows the vehicle during that flight, although the exact date of the capture has not been publicly revealed. Behold: The US Defense Intelligence Agency has released a report on challenges to security in space, including an NEI image of China’s spaceplane from Maxar, taken in 2024. https://t.co/F3msSwoFph — Andrew Jones (@AJ_FI) October 27, 2026 The report identifies two Chinese space models, Shenlong and Tengyun, but it is not known which of them is in the image. The Chinese spacecraft is often compared to the US Space Force’s X-37B because both are unmanned reusable orbital vehicles designed to return to Earth. However, the design, payload and mission objectives of the Chinese vehicle remain largely undisclosed. Tracking data indicates that it has deployed objects and conducted rendezvous and proximity operations, but these observations do not establish the spacecraft’s intended military role. The spaceplane appears in the DIA’s broader assessment of space-related capabilities and threats, which aims to cover the capabilities of strategic rivals. “The updated report details the space military and defense objectives, including strategies, plans and intentions, of China, Russia and the emerging space powers of Iran and North Korea,” the press release says. The Long March 2F/T launch vehicle, similar to the one used to transport the Chinese reusable space plane, takes off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. (Image credit: Xinhua) Chinese spacecraft The image provides a view of the underside of China’s reusable spaceplane, with its service module attached and its solar panels deployed. The module is understood to provide electrical power and propulsion during the orbital mission before separating from the spaceplane prior to reentry, similar to the X-37B service module. The image also appears to show the spacecraft’s payload compartment doors, although the precise configuration and function of the visible features have not been publicly detailed. Possibilities include systems such as robotic arms, small satellites or specimens for in-orbit testing. Now this could be a one-off. Rumors say that inside this exceptional payload fairing atop a CZ-2F is a CASC spaceplane, set to launch from Jiuquan on Friday. Source: 俊了个锅 via 林晓弈。 https://t.co/qs6VRfzQoP https://t.co/ZPnpwAIfyO — Andrew Jones (@AJ_FI) September 3, 2020 Beijing launched its first reusable spaceplane prototype on September 4, 2020 aboard a Long March 2F carrier rocket from the Satellite Launch Center of Jiuquan in the northwest The Gobi Desert in China. The spacecraft remained in orbit for two days before returning to Earth. Although Chinese authorities did not initially reveal the landing site in detail, an open-source analysis of satellite images associated the landing with a runway near the Lop Nur nuclear test site in northwest China. Since its launch on August 4, 2022, we observed multiple major maneuvers raising the object’s altitude, as well as repeated deployments, formation flights, and docking of an Object J subsatellite (NORAD ID 54218). https://t.co/ORVgSXYKmJ — LeoLabs (@LeoLabs_Space) May 8, 2023 The second launch of the spaceplane took place on August 4, 2022, this time it spent 276 days in orbit until May 8, 2023. According to the DIA, the vehicle appeared to “maneuver with a companion satellite and stay in position at a separation of approximately 1 km.” “At one point, the two objects appeared within 100 meters of each other. The spaceplane and satellite possibly encountered each other before the satellite was released again,” the DIA report says. This event tested our object tracking and maneuver detection and characterization capabilities, demonstrating that we can provide critical intelligence on object behaviors and activities in #LEO thanks to our continuous real-time operations. https://t.co/WDP06ffBSv — LeoLabs (@LeoLabs_Space) May 8, 2023 On May 8, 2023, commercial space tracking company LeoLabs reported that its observations indicated repeated deployments, formation flights, and apparent docking or capture operations involving ‘Object J’: “Since its launch on August 4, 2022, we observed multiple major maneuvers that raise the altitude of the object, as well as repeated deployments, formation flights and docking of an Object J subsatellite (NORAD ID 54218). China launched the spacecraft on its third orbital mission on December 14, 2023. It remained in orbit for 268 days and returned on September 6, 2024, according to the DIA report. Mission Seven of the U.S. Space Force’s Considering that the Maxar image was captured in 2024, we can assume that the vehicle was photographed during this third mission. Although this was not covered by the report, the spacecraft’s fourth mission began in February 2026. Orbital tracking data analyzed by astronomer Jonathan McDowell indicated that the vehicle released and subsequently recaptured the same object, whose precise identity and purpose remain unknown, with similar operations supposedly repeated later in the flight. It then carried out a rendezvous with Subsat on September 10 and a recapture on September 13. This analysis is based on data from the USSF GP. USSF also cataloged an additional object 24J on approximately September 10, but without orbit data; I believe this was a mistake and is a duplicate of the 24H object. — Jonathan McDowell (@planet4589) September 23, 2026 Future and Purpose The spacecraft’s close-in operations have raised questions about possible counterspace applications, with some theories assigning more exotic “anti-satellite” kinetic capabilities to the Chinese spacecraft. While there is still no evidence that the vehicle is designed as an anti-satellite kinetic weapon, and the spaceplane’s intended mission remains undisclosed, space is becoming a contested domain. The observed rendezvous and capture capabilities may support inspection and maintenance of satellites, but could also allow interference with other spacecraft. The spacecraft’s potential military applications remain uncertain. While there is no public evidence to confirm that the vehicle carries military payloads, such a platform could be used for space reconnaissance, intelligence gathering and monitoring of other space objects, as well as kinetic missions possibly involving the use of directed energy weapons, offensive weapons or electronic warfare. America’s X37B compared to China’s orbital spaceplane. https://t.co/DPC4W3euTW — David Willis (@ThePrimalDino) October 27, 2026 However, China has maintained a non-military purpose for this spacecraft. A machine translation of a Xinhua report on the August 5, 2022 launch said: “The test spacecraft will be in orbit for a period of time before returning to the scheduled landing site in China, during which a verification of reusable and in-orbit servicing technology will be carried out as planned to provide technical support for the peaceful use of space.”
