Shenlong Robotic Spaceplane

The Shenlong is a Chinese robotic reusable spaceplane designed for suborbital and orbital flight operations. It serves as a technology demonstrator for rapid space access, reconnaissance, and payload delivery, acting as a strategic counterpart to the US military's X-37B.

The Shenlong program originated in the 2000s as part of China's high-tech National 863 Program, aiming to develop reusable aerospace launch technology. In 2007, photos surfaced showing a scaled prototype of the spaceplane mounted beneath a Xian H-6 bomber, followed by a reported suborbital test flight in December 2008. The project has paved the way for larger, highly classified Chinese reusable orbital spacecraft, which completed multi-month orbital missions in 2020, 2022, and 2023. These advancements provide the PLA with enhanced space situational awareness, flexible payload deployment capabilities, and a foundation for future military space operations.