China's Shenlong: Secret Space Plane Mission Explained

The origins of the Shenlong program can be traced back to the early 2000s, but it was not until the late 2000s and early 2010s that reports began to emerge about China's intentions to develop a reusable space plane. The first known public mention of the Shenlong came in 2011, when Chinese media reported on the existence of a reusable spacecraft that could be launched into space atop a rocket and then return to Earth, landing on a runway.

Despite these early reports, the first confirmed test flight of the Shenlong did not occur until September 2020. The spacecraft was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China's Inner Mongolia region. This test flight was notable for its secrecy; the launch was not announced by Chinese authorities beforehand, and details about the mission were sparse. The Shenlong spacecraft was reportedly launched on a Long March 2F rocket, similar to the one used for manned Shenzhou missions, and returned to Earth two days later.

While specific details about the Shenlong's design, capabilities, and future mission plans remain undisclosed, the test flight in 2020 was a clear indication of China's ongoing efforts to advance its space agency's capabilities. The secrecy surrounding the project and the limited information available have only fueled public interest and speculation about the true potential of the Shenlong space plane. As China continues to develop its space program, any future test flights or operational deployments of the Shenlong will undoubtedly be closely watched, with each new development adding to the excitement and intrigue surrounding this unique spacecraft. If you like the content in this episode, please also check out our other videos on this channel and subscribe for more updates on China’s space technology advancements. That’s all we have for now, and thank you for tuning in.

Keywords: #chinatechnology #chinaspace #chinaspacestation #aerospace

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[ClassifiedDefenseFiles]

The Shenlong space plane has conducted at least one test flight, which was confirmed in 2020. However, the exact number of flights and the current status of the project remain unknown. China's continued investment in the Shenlong indicates that the spacecraft is a significant part of its future space endeavors, potentially leading to a new era of reusable space vehicles that could change the economics and operational capabilities of space missions. Do you think that China has already succeeded with Shenlong and prepared to solidify the blueprint for the launch in the near future? Please share your thoughts down in the comment below. Thank you for watching! 🙏

[peteryu]

Shenlong is necessary to put Chinese astronauts on the moon as well as space travel industry. Bravo!

[asiabusinesscircle]

China has been planning this Shenlong project for quite sometime due to the bigger plan to reduce cost and improve the overall efficiency of frequent travels to the space station and soon the moon.

[punisher_assassin]

Why is secrecy a problem when the U.S. doesn't disclose what the X23 does or any of it's missions or does transparency only work One way?

[OperaRotas-ikxz]

Welcome Shenlong the Chinese cutting-edge technology 👍 👍 👍 💪💪💪

[picandvideo]

can be landed on the moon after the moon base station is built.

[paultsjan]

China is carrying reusable technology verification and space science experiments as well as providing technical support in space.
Reusable space planes have many potential commercial and scientific applications, including carrying passengers and launching satellites more efficiently.
Shenlong space plane is an orbital plane to do just that.

[brianhong]

Shenlong studied all of the WEST's satellites, to have understood what is what for what & how each transmits & receives.

[brianliew]

Could Shenlong please help the US to rescue the two American astronauts trapped in the ISS? 🤔🤔🤔🤔

[MalFlower]

If its secret, how does anyone know about it??