Pentagon Report Reveals Rare Image of China’s Shenlong Spacecraft

WHO:

Newsweek - The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) published an image showing China’s Shenlong space plane attached to an unidentified satellite.

Live Science - The DIA report identifies the object in the image as a “PRC [People’s Republic of China] Spaceplane,” but does not specify whether it is Shenlong or Tengyun.

Live Science - Journalist Andrew Jones, who covers China’s space program, spotted and shared the image on X.

Live Science - The image was taken by a Maxar Technologies satellite; the company is now known as Vantor.

Live Science - China has two active space-plane designs, Shenlong (“divine dragon”) and Tengyun (“cloud rider”); experts consider Shenlong the likelier identification.

Live Science - The U.S. Space Force operates the X-37B, which Live Science says is currently in low Earth orbit.

WHAT:

Newsweek - A DIA-published image depicts the Chinese space plane Shenlong attached to an unidentified satellite.

Live Science - The DIA’s “Challenges to Security in Space” report included a previously unseen image of a Chinese space plane on page 53 of its 130-page document.

Live Science - The image suggests Shenlong resembles the X-37B, with delta wings, payload-bay doors, a dark heat shield, and a rear service module with solar arrays. The aircraft differ in wing geometry; their external designs are not identical.

Live Science - Shenlong’s size is unknown. The X-37B is 29 feet (8.8 meters) long, with a 15-foot (4.5-meter) wingspan.

Live Science - The image does not establish that Shenlong has a weapons role, according to Global Defense News.

Live Science - The DIA report says China has developed and will continue advancing weapons to “disrupt, damage, and destroy other nations’ space capabilities.”

Live Science - Shenlong has released at least nine unidentified objects in orbit, likely small satellites called cubesats; their purpose is unknown.

Live Science - The report says Shenlong appeared to maneuver near a companion satellite, approaching within 330 feet (100 meters), and may have captured and released it.

WHERE:

Live Science - Shenlong operates in low Earth orbit and returns to Earth by gliding to the surface.

Live Science - Shenlong’s fourth mission launched from China’s Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center aboard a Long March 2F rocket.

WHEN:

Live Science - The image was taken in 2024 during Shenlong’s nine-month mission.

Live Science - Shenlong’s first space mission lasted two days; later missions lasted eight months and nine months.

Live Science - Shenlong’s fourth mission launched Feb. 7; the article reports more than 800 cumulative days in orbit.

Live Science - The spacecraft’s most recent reported payload deployment was in June; astronomer Jonathan McDowell suggested it retrieved the object and released it again in late August.

HOW:

Live Science - Shenlong is launched by rocket, orbits Earth, then glides back to the surface, where it can be refueled and relaunched.

Live Science - The report says Shenlong may conduct rendezvous and proximity operations with other spacecraft, using payloads as targets for orbital flyby maneuvers.

(UPDATED October 29, 2026 19:05 UTC)

A Defense Intelligence Agency report has published a previously unseen image of a Chinese space plane attached to an unidentified satellite, though it labels the craft only as a Chinese space plane and does not confirm whether it is Shenlong or Tengyun. Experts consider Shenlong the likelier identification, and the image shows a design that resembles the U.S. X-37B but is not identical; it does not establish that the Chinese craft has a weapons role. The report says Shenlong has released at least nine unidentified objects in orbit and appeared to maneuver close to a companion satellite, possibly capturing and releasing it.