China has launched its experimental reusable spaceplane for the fourth time. Its mission is once again being kept strictly secret.
The launch took place on February 7 from the Jiuquan Space Center. The spacecraft was launched into orbit using a Long March 2F rocket.
As usual, China did not provide any specific information about the spaceplane and its mission. The Xinhua news agency only reported that it would conduct a technological test of reusable spacecraft, providing technical support for the peaceful use of space.
The fourth launch of the Chinese spaceplane took place approximately 519 days after the completion of its previous mission. The interval between the first and second missions was 697 days, and between the second and third missions, 220 days.
All three previous missions involved placing a small satellite into orbit. During the second and third missions, the spaceplane apparently practiced rendezvous and capture maneuvers with an object it had previously released.
China has not yet provided any images or information about its reusable spacecraft project. It is known that the Long March 2F rocket can carry just over eight tons into low Earth orbit. This suggests that it is similar in size and function to the American X-37B space drone. Images of the rocket’s head fairing used in one of its previous missions, as well as photographs taken by satellite spotters, confirm this hypothesis.
According to Spacenews
