China's Mysterious Spaceplane Successfully Completes 9-Month Orbital Mission and Returns to Earth.
Data from LeoLabs shows that a Chinese reusable space vehicle, believed to be a miniature spaceplane design, docked with or captured a separate object on multiple occasions during its recent 276-day-long stint in orbit. The vehicle's maneuverability could be used to surveil, disrupt, and attack an opponent's space-based assets, as well as retrieve or interact with friendly ones. The docking or capture capability could indicate the presence of robotics arms or other protrusions that could be used to damage or destroy an opposing satellite. The data adds to the already growing evidence of China's anti-satellite capabilities.
