China’s experimental reusable spacecraft has drawn international attention by releasing an unidentified object into orbit during its third mission. The U.S. Space Force’s space domain awareness teams have cataloged this object as 59884 (International designator 2023-195G). The object, released on May 24, 2024, follows the launch of the spaceplane on December 14, 2023, marking 164 days in orbit.
Expert Observations and Speculations
Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and a renowned space activity tracker, was the first to highlight this event. McDowell speculated on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that the object could either be a subsatellite deployment or hardware ejected in preparation for the mission’s conclusion and deorbiting. There is also a possibility that the object is intended for proximity and capture maneuvers, similar to previous missions where the spaceplane utilized a released object for on-orbit testing.
Secrecy and Speculation
China has maintained strict secrecy regarding the mission, with no images or detailed descriptions of the spacecraft being released by Chinese space authorities. The only official communication came shortly after the launch, with a brief report stating, “During this period, reusable technology verification and space science experiments will be carried out as planned to provide technical support for the peaceful use of space.”
Technological Parallels
The Chinese spacecraft is believed to be a counterpart to the U.S. Air Force’s X-37B spaceplane. Both are part of a broader effort to develop reusable spacecraft, which promise significant cost reductions and increased mission frequency. The Long March 2F rocket, used to launch the Chinese spaceplane, has a payload capacity of over eight metric tons to low Earth orbit, hinting at similarities in size and function to the X-37B.
Previous Missions and Performance
China’s spaceplane has had two prior missions. The first, in 2020, lasted two days, while the second, launched in 2022, extended for 276 days. Both missions involved releasing an object while in orbit. The third mission’s rapid seven-month turnaround suggests an accelerated development pace.
Orbital Maneuvers
During its current mission, the spacecraft has performed several maneuvers to alter its orbit. Initially placed in a 333 by 348-kilometer-altitude orbit with a 50-degree inclination, the spaceplane has since raised its orbit to a range of 602 by 609 kilometers.
Future Prospects
The reusable spacecraft is part of a broader plan to integrate with a reusable suborbital first stage, which China tested in 2021 and 2022. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) aims to develop a fully reusable two-stage-to-orbit (TSTO) space transportation system, supported by national funding secured from the Natural Science Foundation of China in 2022.
The U.S. Perspective
Meanwhile, the U.S. Space Force continues to advance its X-37B spaceplane program. The seventh mission of the X-37B, launched on December 28, 2023, aboard a Falcon Heavy rocket, aimed for a highly elliptical, high inclination orbit, significantly higher than previous missions. The X-37B, an autonomous reusable vehicle, has been operational since 2010 and remains a cornerstone of U.S. space capabilities.
As China continues to develop its spaceplane technology, the international community closely watches these advancements, understanding that the future of space exploration and utilization may hinge on the success of these reusable spacecraft.