US Intelligence Report Reveals First High-Resolution Image of Chinese Shenlong Spaceplane

OPA WIRE, Oct 29 (OPA) — The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) included the previously unseen image in its latest 'Challenges to Security in Space' report. Captured by Vantor—formerly Maxar Technologies—the photograph shows the 26-foot-long spacecraft in orbit with its payload bay doors partially open. A secondary 32-foot-wide satellite is visible docked to the rear of the craft, which experts identify as a potential service module designed to provide power or propulsion support.

Technical analysis of the imagery highlights a design nearly identical to the U.S. X-37B, featuring a central payload bay and tilted rear fins. Professor Jonathan McDowell of the Durham University Space Research Centre noted that the overall layout suggests a deliberate design parallel to the American robotic shuttle. While the DIA report confirms the craft is capable of launching, testing, and retrieving objects in Low-Earth Orbit, it stops short of detailing the specific mission objectives of the Shenlong program.

China has maintained strict operational secrecy regarding the Shenlong, which has completed multiple missions since its debut in 2020. Radar tracking data has previously recorded the craft releasing unidentified payloads, including small cubesats, into orbit. During its second mission in 2022, the spaceplane performed a close-proximity maneuver, coming within 330 feet of another spacecraft, fueling international speculation regarding its potential for satellite capture or orbital maintenance.

As of 2026, the exact number of operational Shenlong vehicles remains unconfirmed, as does the distinction between the Shenlong and the Tengyun spaceplane programs. While the DIA report documents China’s expanding reusable space systems, it does not explicitly state why the image was declassified at this time. The craft’s ability to remain in orbit for extended periods and perform complex docking maneuvers continues to be a primary focus for international space monitoring agencies.