China sends fourth ‘Shenlong’ reusable spacecraft mission into orbit

China successfully launched its fourth mission of the reusable experimental spacecraft, commonly referred to as the Shenlong or “Divine Dragon,” on Saturday. This launch took place at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre and utilized the Long March-2F carrier rocket. The mission is part of China's ongoing efforts to develop a reusable spacecraft that could serve as a potential competitor to the United States Space Force's X-37B. The specifics regarding the official name and technical specifications of the spacecraft have not been disclosed by Chinese authorities. The secrecy surrounding the mission has been noted, as China has maintained strict confidentiality regarding details of the spacecraft and its objectives. This fourth launch continues a trend of limited information being shared with the public, which has been characteristic of China's space missions involving this particular spacecraft. Since the inception of the Shenlong program, China has conducted four launches of this prototype spacecraft since 2020. Each of these missions has been executed from the same launch site, reinforcing the strategic focus on developing capabilities in reusable space technology. The continued development and testing of the Shenlong spacecraft highlight China's ambitions in the field of space exploration and military applications.