All articles tagged with #orbital objects
China's secretive spaceplane, which has been in orbit for over 160 days, recently released another unidentified object into space, raising concerns among U.S. officials. The object, cataloged by the U.S. Space Force and first flagged by space activity tracker Jonathan McDowell, adds to the mystery and suspicion surrounding China's space activities.
China's Shenlong robotic space plane has been observed placing six unidentified objects into Earth's orbit, emitting signals similar to previous missions. The Chinese space plane, known as the "Divine Dragon," has exhibited similar behaviors in the past, releasing small unknown objects into orbit. China is gaining experience with space plane operations for various objectives, including potentially establishing a cost-effective reusable mass satellite launch platform. Additionally, China plans to build a 300-satellite constellation in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) by 2030, providing ultra-fast remote sensing and communication services. The use of space planes for military purposes, such as a fractional orbital bombardment system (FOBS), is also discussed, although Western analysts are skeptical about China's claims in this regard.
China's secretive spaceplane, Shenlong, has released six mysterious objects into Earth's orbit during its third mission. Amateur astronomer Scott Tilley has been tracking the objects, which are emitting various signals. One object appears to closely follow the spaceplane, while others emit intermittent signals without accompanying data. This is not the first time the spaceplane has released mysterious objects into orbit, and given the secrecy surrounding China's space program, their purpose remains unknown.
China's secretive spaceplane, Shenlong, has released at least six mysterious objects into orbit during its third mission. Amateur spacecraft trackers have confirmed the existence of these objects, some of which are transmitting signals. The exact nature and purpose of these payloads remain unknown, but they have military applications. The Chinese spaceplane's ability to deploy and potentially manipulate objects in space raises concerns about its potential for intelligence gathering and interfering with other nations' space assets. The timing of Shenlong's launch coinciding with the planned seventh mission of the U.S. X-37B spaceplane suggests a competitive race in space capabilities between China and the United States.