DISPATCHES FROM THE FRONT LINE OF AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGY
CHINA’S SPACEPLANE AMBITION
A CHINESE COMPANY HAS claimed it’s working on a reusable spaceplane similar to the US Air Force’s secretive X-37B. Unlike the X-37B, which launches into orbit atop a Falcon rocket, the Chinese vehicle would blast off in mid-flight from under the wing of a large ‘mothership’ aircraft. It’s unclear how far along the Chinese design is, when it might fly for the first time and whether the Chinese government has committed to acquiring the vehicle. Nor is it clear exactly why Beijing would want an X-37Bstyle spaceplane.
Some observers have speculated that the X-37B could be a weapon-in-disguise that’s capable of intercepting and tampering with enemy satellites. If that were true, a Chinese spaceplane might also represent a military threat. But, in fact, the X-37B is almost certainly a test vehicle whose main mission is hosting small science experiments. Were it to become a reality, Beijing’s own version would probably undertake similar missions.
Chinese state television reported on the spaceplane concept on March 7. An animation accompanying the report depicts a sleek, twin-engine mothership carrying it to high altitude. The s…
