China has launched its reusable space plane for the third time.
A Long March 2F rocket lofted China’s experimental spacecraft from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Thursday (Dec. 14) to conduct space science experiments and “provide technical support for the peaceful use of space,” in line with Xinhua news.
The launch comes just seven months after the spacecraft’s last mission, a much quicker follow-up in comparison with the primary and second launches which happened 23 months apart, SpaceNews reports.
Hours prior to the secretive spacecraft’s launch, SpaceX stood down from the seventh planned liftoff of the U.S. Space Force’s own X-37B reusable space plane, and even removed the Falcon Heavy rocket containing it from the Kennedy Space Center launch pad. The mission, referred to as USSF-52, was scrubbed on Wednesday (Dec. 13) to “perform additional system checkouts.” Exact reasons for this delay remain unknown, and a brand new date has yet to be set for launch.
Related: China’s mysterious space plane returns to Earth after 9-month orbital mission
Very like the X-37B, little is understood about China’s reusable space plane, subbed Shenlong, or “Divine Dragon.” From what bits of knowledge can be found to the general public, though, the spacecraft appears for use for testing latest payloads and orbital operations. It launches vertically atop a rocket, conducts its mission after which lands horizontally on a runway much like NASA’s space shuttle.
The close timing of the 2 space plane launches can also be not coincidental, in line with General Likelihood Saltzman, U.S. Space Force’s Chief of Space Operations. Speaking on the Space Force Association’s Spacepower Conference this week, Saltzman said China and the U.S. are each very concerned about one another’s space planes.
“Since it is a capability; the power to place something in orbit, do some things, and produce it home and check out the outcomes is powerful,” Saltzman said, in line with Air and Space Forces Magazine. “And so these are two of essentially the most watched objects on orbit while they’re on orbit. It’s probably no coincidence that they are attempting to match us in timing and sequence of this.”
The last flight of China’s robotic space plane lasted 276 days and saw the spacecraft eject an unknown object into orbit. It was speculated on the time that the thing was either a small satellite designed to examine Shenlong or a service module that was now not needed.