HELSINKI – China’s experimental reusable space plane is using a smaller spacecraft to test proximity operations, possibly even to intercept an object.
China launched its spaceplane for the third time via a Long March 2F rocket on December 14, 2023. The spacecraft launched an object first cataloged by US Space Force Space Domain Awareness teams into orbit on May 24, after orbit raising and months of steady operation.
An analysis of orbital data and observations from Leiden, Netherlands, by Marco Langbroek, a lecturer in optical situational awareness in space at Delft University of Technology, suggests that the spacecraft used the “Object G” spacecraft to test rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO). 7-8 June.
Such operations could be useful in the acquisition, repair, and maintenance of friendly satellites or potentially nefarious anti-space operations against adversary spacecraft.
After ejecting the object, the spacecraft performed an evasive maneuver and later performed additional maneuvers between June 5 and 7, Langbroek said on his blog. They brought him closer to the object again on June 8.
“Some combinations of orbital data for epoch 24160 suggest that a potential very close approach at the kilometer level or even less may have occurred on June 8 near 14-15h UTC,” Langbroek wrote.
“However, the rapid maneuvering evident from the clear orbital changes in the successive elsets from June 8-9 makes it difficult to verify the true distances.” Elsets is short for “element sets” used in satellite tracking and orbital mechanics.
While it is unclear whether the spacecraft briefly acquired and re-released Object G, their close approach suggests deliberate approach operations.
Jonathan McDowell, astrophysicist and space flight tracker, said SpaceNews reached similar conclusions to Langbroek regarding potential RPOs.
This would not be the first such activity for the Chinese space plane. Data from private firm Leolabs indicates that the spacecraft performed at least two and possibly three capture/docking operations with an object in shared orbit during its second flight in 2022-2023.
China has also conducted an RPO in geostationary orbit. Shijian-21 towed the dead satellite to the high orbit of the graveyard in December 2021. The GEO belt is also the stage for anti-space activities involving the United States, Russia and China. The US military is trying to strengthen its ability to detect and track potential threats in GEO.
Secret space plane project
China maintains strict secrecy around the mission. The country’s space authorities have not released images or descriptions of the spacecraft. The only official Chinese news about this activity is a brief launch report a few hours after the event.
“During this period, reusable verification technologies and space science experiments are planned to be conducted to provide technical support for the peaceful uses of space,” the report said.
The spacecraft is seen as China’s attempt to develop similar capabilities to the X-37B. He is currently on his third mission. Reusable spacecraft represent a significant advance in space technology and offer the potential for reduced costs and increased mission frequency.
The initial flight in 2020 lasted two days, while the second mission in 2022 extended to 276 days. Both missions involved placing an object in orbit. The interval between the first and second missions was nearly two years, with the third mission following a seven-month interval.
The reusable spacecraft is intended to work in conjunction with a reusable suborbital first stage. This suborbital craft, which uses vertical takeoff and horizontal landing, was first tested in 2021. The second mission flew in August 2022.
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), which developed the spacecraft, announced plans for a fully reusable, two-stage-to-orbit (TSTO) space transportation system ahead of its first launch. In 2022, the CASC space plane project received national funding from the Natural Science Foundation of China.
Meanwhile, the US Space Force X-37B space plane launched its seventh mission on December 28 of the previous year. First launched on a Falcon Heavy, it is believed to have been sent into a highly elliptical, high-inclination orbit at a higher altitude than previous missions. The X-37B, a stealthy and autonomous reusable vehicle, has been flying since 2010.
Related