Chinese Space Plane Makes Social Media Debut

The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency has released the first relatively clear image of China’s space plane and given the physics involved in its mission it’s probably not surprising that it looks a lot like every other space plane. What’s different about the Shenlong is that it sometimes throws something overboard. The vehicle, which translates to “divine dragon” has released at least nine objects into low Earth in the past four years and our side apparently doesn’t know what they are. That mystery has focused numerous ground-based and satellite cameras on the Shendong but this is the first decent quality image that’s made it to the public.

Space journalist Andrew Jones came across the picture in a Defense Intelligence Agency report called “Challenges to Security in Space” and he posted it on social media. The photo was taken in 2024 by a satellite owned by Vantor, which specializes in “on-demand satellite imagery.” Those who need a photo from orbit can have one in their inbox in as little as 15 minutes. It’s not clear who ordered the picture of one of China’s most closely guarded secrets.

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