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U.S. Confirms Existence of China's Shenlong Spaceplane

U.S. Confirms Existence of China's Shenlong Spaceplane

First seen 27 Oct 2026, 21:18 UTC • •
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ThreatCluster AI
ThreatCluster •October 28, 2026 at 09:19 UTC
  • •DIA confirms the existence of China's Shenlong spaceplane with a new image.
  • •Shenlong has completed four orbital missions since 2020, with the latest in February 2026.
  • •The spaceplane's capabilities and mission details remain largely classified.

The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) has confirmed that a previously circulating image depicts China's experimental reusable spaceplane, Shenlong. This confirmation comes with the release of a higher-resolution image in the DIA's latest report on global security challenges. The image, captured by Maxar Technologies in 2024, shows a design similar to the U.S. X-37B spaceplane, featuring rear-facing solar panels and a central payload bay. China has reportedly conducted four orbital missions with the Shenlong since 2020, with the most recent launch occurring on February 7, 2026. The capabilities and specific mission details of Shenlong remain largely classified, though it is known to have released objects into orbit during previous missions. The report emphasizes the growing capabilities of China in reusable space technologies, posing potential challenges to U.S. space security.

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Timeline

2024-01-01
Maxar captures image of Shenlong
A high-resolution image of China's Shenlong spaceplane was taken by Maxar Technologies, later included in a DIA report.
Popsci
2026-02-07
Shenlong's fourth orbital mission launched
China launched its fourth mission of the Shenlong spaceplane from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
Popsci
2026-10-26
DIA releases report on space security
The DIA published its 2026 edition of Challenges to Security in Space, featuring the confirmed image of Shenlong.
Twz

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Common questions

What is the Shenlong spaceplane?
The Shenlong is China's experimental reusable spaceplane, designed for orbital missions.
How many missions has Shenlong completed?
Shenlong has completed four orbital missions since its first launch in 2020.
What does the DIA report say about Shenlong?
The DIA report confirms the existence of Shenlong and details its design similarities to the U.S. X-37B.