HELSINKI — China’s secretive spaceplane could have performed multiple recaptures of an object it released into orbit during its recently accomplished second flight as a part of on-orbit testing.
Private firm Leolabs, which provides space situational awareness data through its global network of radars for tracking objects in low Earth orbit, said its evaluation found evidence of what seemed to be at the least two and possibly three capture/docking operations with a co-orbiting object.
China’s clandestine spaceplane launched Aug. 4, 2022, embarking on its second flight, two years after its first, four-day-long mission. The second flight ended with a horizontal landing May 10, after 276 days in orbit.
China has released little or no information in regards to the project, but clues indicate the spacecraft is somewhat much like the Boeing X-37B.
U.S. Space Force’s 18th Space Defense Squadron tracking data revealed an object in a closely-matching orbit to the spaceplane Oct. 31, 2022 (NORAD ID 54218 (2022-093J COSPAR ID)).
This companion subsatellite was then utilized in a series of rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) with the spacecraft, based on Leolabs.
“Analyzing data from our global radar network, we’ve determined that the Test Spacecraft2 has propulsive capability and engaged in proximity operations with Object J, including what seemed to be at the least two and possibly three capture/docking operations,” a Leolabs statement said.
Leolabs’ assessment of on-orbit activities highlights three periods of RPO. One period, between Nov. 25 and Dec. 24 last 12 months, shows that the 2 spacecraft were either docked or spaced very closely, with a possible docking performed on Nov. 25 or 26. A second docking was noted as going down Jan. 10, 2023, in a second phase of operations.
A later phase, between Feb. 20 and March 29, was much like the previous and “featured what seemed to be apparent forced separation, followed by rendezvous and formation flying. 54218 [companion satellite] was once more observed to maneuver independently of the parent craft.”
Leolabs notes that, on a minimum of 5 occasions, the companion satellite demonstrated what seemed to be independent propulsive capabilities.
The spaceplane’s operations will likely gain attention outside of China, particularly close to docking and capture operations and the possible uses of such capabilities.
“Based on what we do know, it looks as if the Chinese and American spaceplane programs are getting used in very similar fashions – primarily as testbeds for brand spanking new technologies and capability demonstrations. It’s hard to inform of course what technologies or capabilities exactly, as each governments are pretty secretive about the main points,” Brian Weeden, director of program planning for the Secure World Foundation, told via email.
“What I find fascinating is the perceptions surrounding each program. When the X-37B began flying, it generated a number of concern from the Chinese in regards to the potential for it for use as a weapon, a priority they’ve mentioned in recent multilateral discussions on space security.
“Likewise, I expect that these latest reports on the Chinese spaceplane are prone to cause a number of concern within the US, despite it being pretty much like capabilities the U.S. can also be developing.”
A press release from the spaceplane’s maker, CASC, released after the May 10 landing claimed that the project “will provide a more convenient and cheap solution to access space for the peaceful use of space in the longer term.”
“We all know the X-37B has also deployed several subsatellites on previous missions, but there isn’t the general public tracking data to give you the option to inform if it did RPOs or not,” Weeden wrote.
The spacecraft landed at Lop Nur military base in Xinjiang May 8. Leolabs states that their remark data indicated the landing window to be likely between 0018 and 0020 UTC.
CASC’s reusable spaceplane project last 12 months acquired national level funding from the Natural Science Foundation of China.
Leolabs previously highlighted that the spaceplane made a big change to its orbit in April, likely in preparation for the spacecraft to land. The mission was utilized by the corporate to check its capabilities.
“This event tested LeoLabs object tracking and maneuver detection and characterization capabilities, proving that we will provide critical intelligence on the behaviors and activities of HIOs due to our continuous, real-time operations,” Leolabs said in a press release.