US reveals China's secret space plane - and what was seen alongside it?

An American intelligence report has revealed a new image of China's secret space plane, the "Shenlong," including details about its structure and maneuvers in which it released and retrieved a satellite twice within three months.

An American intelligence report by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), published on October 26, 2026, revealed a new image of China's secret space plane, known in Western media as "Shenlong" ("Divine Dragon"). The image was taken on May 28, 2024, by the WorldView-3 satellite of Maxar (now Venter) from a distance of less than 90 kilometers, at a resolution of about 4.5 centimeters per pixel. The image shows a vehicle about 8 meters long, with small wings, two tail fins, and a central cargo bay with its doors partially open. Attached to its rear is another satellite with solar panels spanning about 10 meters. The report describes complex maneuvers: on June 21, 2026, the plane released a small satellite, and on July 12, it apparently approached it to retrieve it. At the end of August, the satellite was released again, and in early September, a second retrieval was documented. Professor Jonathan McDowell of Durham University assessed that the vehicle has a robotic arm. The report warns of China as the second-largest space power, with 93 launches per year and developing military capabilities, including anti-satellite missiles and laser weapons.