So far, little is known about a reusable Chinese spacecraft – there are no pictures either. In 2020 there was a first short test. A second test has now ended after 276 days in orbit. China speaks of a breakthrough.
After 276 days in space, a Chinese spacecraft appears to have successfully returned to Earth. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) reported in a statement. Accordingly, it is a multi-use new spaceship.
The main contractor for the Chinese space program spoke of a “complete success” and an “important breakthrough” in research into reusable space technology. In the future there will be a “more practical and cheaper way for the peaceful use of space,” it said. No further details were given.
Experts: landing on military base
The space glider was launched on August 4, 2022 with a “Long March 2F” rocket from the Jiuquan Cosmodrome in the Gobi Desert in the north-west of the People’s Republic. Foreign experts reported that he deployed a small satellite operating in close proximity to the spacecraft.
Where the spacecraft landed was not disclosed. Based on the trajectory and ground activity, foreign experts believe the landing took place at the Lop Nor military base in western China.
2020: Four-day flight
It was the second test with the spacecraft, which raises many questions due to the lack of public information. There was already a four-day flight in 2020 about which little was known. There are no pictures of the new space glider yet. But experts suspect that it could possibly resemble the US Air Force’s Boeing X-27B in size and design.