Pentagon releases image of China's secret spaceplane resembling X-37B

The US Defense Intelligence Agency published the first image of China's reusable spaceplane, captured by a Vantor (formerly Maxar) commercial satellite in 2024. The delta-winged vehicle with a payload bay and solar arrays closely mirrors the US Space Force's X-37B. China has flown four spaceplane missions since 2020, with the fourth in orbit since February.

• Image was taken by Vantor (Maxar) in 2024 and released in a DIA assessment
• China has flown four spaceplane missions since 2020, lasting up to nine months
• The vehicle released and recaptured a sub-satellite twice between June and September
• DIA: by the late 2020s China may field space-based lasers to threaten satellites