China’s Shenlong Space Plane Captured in High-Resolution Satellite Photo

A photograph taken by Vantor’s WorldView 3 satellite shows China’s reusable Shenlong space plane attached to another spacecraft with its solar panels deployed. The image was captured from roughly 56 miles (90 km) altitude, delivering a resolution of about 4.5 cm (1.8 in) per pixel. In the picture Shenlong’s payload-bay doors are open, offering a rare view of the vehicle’s interior configuration during its fourth mission, which launched in February 2026. The photograph appears in a Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) assessment of adversary activities in space.

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Since its debut, Shenlong has conducted a series of sub-satellite releases. On its second mission in 2023 the vehicle released an object and performed proximity-rendezvous maneuvers. A similar release occurred during the third mission, which ended in 2024. In June 2026, American space-intelligence firm LeoLabs detected a new object near Shenlong and, after analysis, concluded it originated from the Chinese space plane.

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The DIA report that includes the new photo frames the observation as part of a broader evaluation of potential threats in orbit. The U.S. Space Force, meanwhile, released its first official painting of the Boeing-built X-37B in 2023, depicting a similar robotic space plane intercepting another satellite, and later published a real-world image of the X-37B in high Earth orbit in February 2025.

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• “Following additional observations across our global network and analysis via LeoLabs Delta, we have independently cataloged this object and assessed with high confidence that it was released from the Chinese space plane,” — LeoLabs

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The X-37B, like Shenlong, is a secretive, reusable vehicle operated by the U.S. Space Force. Its occasional public imagery underscores the parallel development of autonomous space-plane capabilities by both nations, though detailed mission objectives remain largely undisclosed.

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