Inside the Pentagon's Assessment

The United States Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) has released a high-resolution photograph of China's secretive robotic space plane, known as the Shenlong or "Divine Dragon." The imagery offers defense analysts an unprecedented look at the reusable spacecraft, which has spent years conducting classified maneuvers in low Earth orbit (LEO).

The photograph, captured in 2024 by commercial imaging satellites from a distance of 90 kilometers with a resolution of 4.5 centimeters per pixel, forms part of a broader DIA threat assessment report. The document highlights the vehicle's capability to launch into orbit, deploy payloads, and safely return to Earth.

Capabilities and Comparison

Measuring approximately 26 feet in length, the Shenlong shares functional similarities with the United States Space Force's Boeing-built X-37B orbital test vehicle. Both spacecraft utilize a vertical rocket launch system—with the Shenlong relying on a Long March 2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre—before re-entering the atmosphere and landing horizontally like an aircraft.

Defense analysts and orbital trackers have closely monitored the Shenlong's current mission, its fourth to date, which commenced in February. Previous flights of the robotic space plane drew international attention after the vehicle deployed unidentified objects into orbit, prompting heightened scrutiny from military and private space observers alike.

Public Visibility and Tracking

While Beijing has not released official photographs of the operational spacecraft, its orbital path has brought it into visual range for skywatchers across North America. Astronomical tracking data indicates that the spacecraft will make observable passes over several major metropolitan areas during pre-dawn hours, providing amateur astronomers and researchers with rare opportunities to spot the classified vehicle using optical instruments.