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China’s experimental reusable spacecraft launched an unknown object into orbit during its third mission. The object is cataloged as 59884 (international designation 2023-195G) by the U.S. Space Force’s
China’s experimental reusable spacecraft launched an unknown object into orbit during its third mission. The object is cataloged as 59884 (international designation 2023-195G) by the U.S. Space Force’s Space Exploration Groups. The alleged spaceplane was launched on December 14, 2023 and spent 164 days in orbit. The object was apparently released on May 24.
Jonathan McDowell of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and Cosmic Activity Tracker was the first person to notice the event. X, formerly known as Twitter, suggested the object could be a deployed subsatellite or a piece of hardware discarded before the mission was completed and deorbited.
The object can also be used for approach and capture manoeuvres. The spacecraft used it to recapture the released object several times as part of orbital testing during its second flight.
China kept the mission strictly secret. The country’s space authorities have not released any images or descriptions of the spacecraft. The only official Chinese report of this activity is a brief launch report published a few hours after the incident.
“During this period, validation of reusable technologies and space science experiments will continue as planned to provide technical support for the peaceful use of space,” the report said.
The spacecraft is seen as China’s attempt to develop capabilities similar to the X-37B. He is currently on his third mission. Reusable spacecraft represent a major advance in space technology and offer the potential to reduce costs and increase mission frequency.
The Long March 2F rocket that launches the spacecraft is capable of carrying just over eight metric tons of payload into low Earth orbit. This suggests that the spacecraft may be somewhat similar in size and functionality to the US Air Force’s X-37B spaceplane.
This idea is supported by clear images of payload fairing debris collected during the second launch and posted on the Sina Weibo social media site. The images provide possible clues about the spacecraft’s size and shape.
The fairing of the CZ2F rocket that launched CSSHQ on August 5 is openly displayed at Henan Jiyuan No.1 middle school. If the humps are spare areas for the wings, the wingspan of the CSSHQ can be larger than the diameter of the fairing (4.2 m). HD: https://t.co/aPZ6MvDdZq Credit: TikTok Douyin@hnsjydyzx pic.twitter.com/6i3mXPvFLe
— CNSA Watcher (@CNSAWatcher) 14 August 2022
The first flight in 2020 lasted two days, while the second flight, launched in 2022, took 276 days. Both orbital visits involved releasing the object while in orbit.
The difference between the spacecraft’s first and second missions, which will be launched in 2020 and 2022 respectively, was one year and 11 months. The third mission was completed in seven months.
| Mission | launch date | Boarding date | Duration | Time since previous mission | start site | landing site |
| Task 1 | September 4, 2020 | September 6, 2020 | 2 days | None | Jiuquan Cosmodrome | Lop Nur air base |
| Mission 2 | 4 August 2022 | May 8, 2023 | ~276 days | 1 year 11 months | Jiuquan Cosmodrome | Lop Nur air base |
| Task 3 | December 14, 2023 | None | 164 days (continuing) | 7 months, 6 days | Jiuquan Cosmodrome | None |
Mission information of China’s space plane or experimental reusable spacecraft.
During the third flight, the spacecraft performed maneuvers to change its orbit. The spacecraft entered its first orbit at an altitude of 333 x 348 kilometers and an inclination angle of 50 degrees. Data from the US Space Force space domain shows that the spacecraft then increased its orbit to its current 602 x 609 kilometer orbit through a series of maneuvers.
A reusable spacecraft could have an orbital segment that would operate in conjunction with a reusable suborbital first stage. The reusable suborbital spacecraft was first tested in 2021. The second mission was launched in August 2022. Suborbital vehicles use vertical takeoff and horizontal landing.
The spacecraft’s developer, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), announced plans to develop a fully reusable two-stage orbital transport system (TSTO) ahead of its first launch. In 2022, the CASC spaceplane project received national funding from the Natural Science Foundation of China.
Meanwhile, on December 28 last year, the US Space Force X-37B spaceplane was launched on its seventh mission. Space observers fly Falcon Heavy for the first time; This shows that the spacecraft was sent into a highly elliptical orbit with a high inclination and a much higher altitude than previous missions. The stealth and autonomous reusable vehicle X-37B began flying in 2010.
Source: Port Altele
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