China's mysterious Shenlong space plane recently launched on its 4th mission. What is it doing up there?
Space.com
by Mike Wall February 23, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
China’s Shenlong space plane, known as the "Divine Dragon," has successfully embarked on its fourth mission, raising curiosity about its purpose. This reusable robotic spacecraft, developed by China, was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert on February 6th, continuing a series of missions that began in September 2020. Despite its operational nature, details about Shenlong’s activities remain scarce, with the Chinese government only stating it aims to advance technology for more accessible space travel.
Shenlong’s missions have varied significantly in duration, including 276 days and 266 days on two occasions, indicating a focus on endurance testing. While its exact functions are unclear, analysts draw parallels between Shenlong and the U.S. X-37B space plane, another autonomous robotic spacecraft. Both vehicles share similarities in design and operational secrecy. The X-37B, operated by the U.S. Space Force, has been in service since 2010 and is currently on its eighth mission, launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
Despite military claims that such planes are solely for testing purposes, concerns about their potential as space weapons persist. However, experts argue these fears are exaggerated. The X
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Originally published on Space.com on 2/23/2026