China says it has successfully launched a "reusable experimental spacecraft" under increasing secrecy. Space industry observers believe it is an unmanned spacecraft, similar to the X-37B, operated by the US Air Force and Space Force in recent years.
A brief statement from China's state-run
Xinhua Media announced the launch on Friday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch
Center in northwest China.
"After a period of operation in
orbit, the spacecraft will return to its designated landing site in China. It
will test reusable technologies during its flight, allowing for the peaceful
use of space," the statement said. Technical support will be, provided.
"
The mission was conducted’ under the guise
of additional privacy, with no official picture of the launch nor the timing of
the launch.
"It's tempting to think it's not just
a spacecraft, it's a military spacecraft," said Jonathan McDowell, an
astronomer at the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astronomy at the European
Space Agency's Zoom Conference on Friday. There is a plane. "
China had earlier announced its intention
to test the spacecraft in 2017, and reports have been circulating abroad for
months that preparations are underway.
The US X37B has been flying autonomously
for more than two years. It is unclear how long the new Chinese spacecraft will
remain in orbit.
Satellite watchdog Michael Thompson said
that if its purpose was a short mission, it could return to Earth in less than
24 hours:
We'll update this story as we learn more
about the craft or its flight.
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