HELSINKI — China launched an experimental reusable spacecraft Friday
following months of low-key preparations at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch
Center.
A Long March 2F launch vehicle delivered the spacecraft into orbit following
launch at an unspecified time.
Chinese state media Xinhua reported mission success just under three hours
after the opening of the launch window at 1:23 a.m. Eastern. The ‘reusable
experimental spacecraft’ is currently in orbit carrying out tests.
“After a period of in-orbit operation, the spacecraft will return to the
scheduled landing site in China. It will test reusable technologies during
its flight, providing technological support for the peaceful use of space,”
the Xinhua report stated.
China stated in 2017 that it aimed to test a reusable spaceplane in 2020. The
United States currently has its U.S. Air Force X-37B spaceplane carrying out
its sixth mission in orbit.
中國今天(4日)在酒泉衛星發射中心,利用長征二號F運載火箭,成功發射一型可重複使用
的試驗航天器 (類似美國X-37B)無人太空梭 成為全球第二個擁有無人太空梭的國家