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The
uncrewed spacecraft returned to the Jiuquan launch centre in
northwest China on Monday as scheduled, according to state
media.
No details were given on what the spacecraft was, what
technologies were tested, how high it flew, and where its orbits
had taken it since its launch in early August 2022. Images of
the craft have also yet to be released to the public.
The test marks an "important" breakthrough in China's research
into reusable spacecraft technology that will provide a more
convenient and inexpensive way to mount future space missions,
state media reported.
In 2021, what may have been a similar spacecraft flew to the
edge of space and returned to Earth on the same day in a mission
that was also kept largely under wraps. It landed on Earth
"horizontally," according to China's main space contractor at
the time.
Commentators on Chinese social media have speculated that
Beijing has been developing a spacecraft like the U.S. Air
Force's X-37B, an autonomous spaceplane that can remain in orbit
for years.
The uncrewed and reusable X-37B returned to Earth in November
last year in its sixth and latest mission, after more than 900
days in orbit.
(Reporting by Ryan Woo. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
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