US planned to launch a secret space plane a day ahead of China. SpaceX delayed it
- Chinese ‘reusable experimental spacecraft’ lifts off atop a Long March 2F rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre, Xinhua reported around 11pm Thursday
- Independent observers have some, but not complete, insights into what the Chinese space plane might look like and do, says US space analyst
China launched its secret space plane for a third time on Thursday, while the US Space Force is still waiting for its X-37B to get off the pad after multiple delays.
The Chinese “reusable experimental spacecraft” successfully lifted off atop a Long March 2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the Gobi Desert, state news agency Xinhua reported at around 11pm.
As with the previous two launches in 2020 and 2022, Xinhua did not reveal technical details or images of the spacecraft, nor did it mention how long the flight would be.
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“It’s going to operate in orbit for a period of time before returning to its intended landing site in China,” the report said.
“Reusable technology verification and space science experiments will be carried out to provide technical support for the peaceful use of space,” the report said, employing the same wording it used for the 2020 and 2022 missions.
Jonathan McDowell, a Harvard astronomer who tracks rocket launches and space activities, said the uncrewed plane was being tracked by the US Space Force in a roughly circular orbit about 300km in altitude.
“This is very similar to the first launch in 2020. The second launch in 2022 went to a slightly higher orbit of 345 x 593km,” he said.
Originally scheduled to take off at a similar time, its US counterpart Boeing X-37B remains grounded atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, after postponements attributed to poor weather and launch site issues.