NEW DELHI, Nov 2: A photograph of China’s secretive plane, Shenlong or “divine dragon,” which is orbiting the Earth, has been released by the US intelligence agency.
The robotic space plane has been in action for six years. It made news several times for deploying unidentified objects in low Earth orbit (LEO). After the reports of these objects, companies and individuals have closely monitored the plane using tools such as ground-based radar. The new photograph has revealed the plane in stunning details, helping researchers study its capabilities.
The latest released photograph was reportedly taken in 2024 by Maxar Technologies (now Vantor) satellite, from a distance of 90 kilometres. It has a resolution of 4.5 centimetres per pixel. The image is part of Defence Intelligence Agency’s (DIA’s) threat assessment report. It describes Shenlong as a space plane that can “launch into orbit to place objects in space or even test them and return to Earth.”
The photograph shows Shenlong docked to another satellite with its solar panels deployed. Its payload door, situated at the back, appears to be open. Shenlong, a reusable space plane, is very similar to its American counterpart, Boeing-built X-37B, and is launched aboard a rocket, before entering the orbit and landing like a plane.
The Chinese plane is on its fourth mission, which began on February 7 this year, when it launched on a Long March 2F rocket from China’s Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre. China has not released an official photograph of Shenlong. Vantor said in a note that the plane is 26 feet long.
(Manas Dasgupta)