Shenlong (spacecraft)

Shenlong
Role Reusable uncrewed spaceplane
National origin  China
First flight 11 December 2007 (drop tests)
8 January 2011 (suborbital flight)
4 September 2020 (orbital flight)
Status Deployed (in use), 3 missions done
Primary user People's Liberation Army (PLA)
China National Space Administration (CNSA)[1]

Shenlong (simplified Chinese: 神龙; traditional Chinese: 神龍; pinyin: shén lóng; lit. 'divine dragon'), also known as the Chinese reusable experimental spacecraft (Chinese: 可重复使用试验航天器; pinyin: Kěchóngfùshǐyòng shìyàn hángtiānqì; lit. 'Reusable Experimental Spacecraft') is a Chinese reusable robotic spaceplane.[1] According to media reports, the spacecraft is launched into Earth orbit in a vertical configuration while enclosed within the payload fairings of a rocket like a traditional satellite or space capsule, but it returns to Earth via a runway landing like a conventional aircraft; the landing is conducted autonomously. Only a few pictures have appeared since it was revealed in late 2007.[2] It embarked upon its initial orbital mission on 4 September 2020.[3][4][5][6] In the absence of any official descriptions of the spacecraft or photographic depictions thereof, some observers have speculated that the spacecraft may resemble the X-37B spaceplane of the United States in both form and function.[7][8]

  1. ^ a b Moss, Trefor (4 September 2020). "China Launches Experimental Spaceplane". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Shenlong Space Plane was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference xinhuanet2020-09-04 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "我国成功发射可重复使用试验航天器" [Our country successfully launched a reusable experimental spacecraft]. Xinhuanet. 4 September 2020. Archived from the original on 4 September 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  5. ^ "China launches own mini-spaceplane reusable spacecraft using a Long March 2F rocket... then lands it two days later". Seradata. 6 September 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  6. ^ "Chongfu Shiyong Shiyan Hangtian Qi (CSSHQ)". Gunter's space page.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference space04Sept2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference reuters06Sept2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).