The Shenlong spacecraft is a new autonomous spaceplane being developed by China. The plane, which is uncrewed and autonomous, appears to be a Chinese version of the US X-37B spaceplane, currently in development from Boeing and which is similarly secretive in both design and objectives.
China recently launched the Shenlong for a third test flight, and during that mission it was observed performing ‘non-standard maneuvers’ that suggest an alternate use other than simple space exploration.
According to [X], the Shenlong spacecraft was observed by US intelligence performing what was thought to be satellite-interception activities. On it’s latest mission, the Shenlong craft was observed deploying a small object which appeared to be similar to a standard satellite, moving several miles away from it, then collecting it again. This appeared to be simulating the retrieval/capture of a satellite while in orbit, which raises obvious concerns.
If this is true, it’s going to be interesting to watch not only the development of this strategy, but also the response to it. Remotely detonated satellites, anyone?
