[Reading Science] Secret Spaceship in China, Actually a Satellite Attack Weapon?

International Journal Nature Conveys Opinions of US Experts
"Possess Satellite Removal Capability Using Robotic Arms"
"Cannot Rule Out Possibility of Aggressive Military Use"

What was the actual mission of China's secret spacecraft that stayed in orbit for about nine months before returning? Chinese authorities claim peaceful purposes such as "research on reusable spacecraft technology." However, there are assertions that it could have military objectives, including attacking and removing enemy satellites using robotic arms.

▲Secret spacecraft 'X-37B' operated by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). [Photo by NASA website]

On the 8th, the Chinese government announced through the state-run Xinhua News Agency that the reusable test spacecraft launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center nine months ago successfully returned after orbiting for 276 days. They stated, "We have made an important breakthrough in reusable spacecraft technology research," and explained, "In the future, we will provide a more convenient and cost-effective way to peacefully utilize space." However, no additional information about the spacecraft's specific performance, specifications, name, or even a single photo was released. Previously, in September 2020, Chinese authorities also launched this secret spacecraft into orbit but brought it back after just two days.

Experts from the United States and other countries believe this secret spacecraft likely has similar performance and missions to the small space shuttle X-37B, which NASA has been operating for ten years in collaboration with Boeing. Kevin Polfliet, a senior researcher at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, is a representative figure. On the 18th (local time), he told the international academic journal Nature, "The mission of NASA's X-37B is also unknown, but the Chinese government has paid attention to its military capabilities since X-37B began operations in 2010," adding, "(The mission of China's secret spacecraft) is probably similar to that of the X-37B."

Jonathan McDowell, a researcher at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, agrees with this view. He explained, "Satellite surveillance shows that China's secret spacecraft demonstrated gliding and runway landing capabilities, which suggests it is an aircraft with its own flight ability," and added, "Although SpaceX's Dragon capsule is also a reusable spacecraft, it differs in that it must use parachutes for landing."

Like the X-37B, China's secret spacecraft is also predicted to be relatively small. It was launched into orbit last August aboard a Changzheng 2F rocket, whose maximum payload capacity is only 8.4 tons. Senior researcher McDowell estimated, "China's secret spacecraft is likely between 5 to 8 tons," and pointed out, "It is much smaller than the Columbia and Challenger space shuttles, which the U.S. retired after conducting manned space missions."

U.S. experts are particularly focused on the actual capabilities and purposes of this secret spacecraft. The U.S. think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) recently published a report stating that in October last year, the secret spacecraft ejected an object, which disappeared from orbit in January this year but reappeared in March. Researcher McDowell emphasized, "The secret spacecraft may have conducted experiments capturing that object with a robotic arm, placing it in the cargo bay, and then ejecting it again," suggesting "it can perform satellite management and repairs using robotic arms, as well as transport and deploy equipment and satellites." China has already showcased its robotic arm development capabilities domestically and internationally through its own space station and a satellite debris removal experiment conducted in February last year.

Senior researcher Polfliet noted, "Although China emphasizes peaceful purposes, most space programs are operated by the military and shrouded in secrecy," and pointed out, "Even if Chinese authorities actually use the secret spacecraft for satellite repair and management, it does not mean they will not use it for attacking other countries' satellites or military activities."