Specialists speculate that it might be similar to a US spaceplane, and it could have research or military uses.
Credit: Boeing/Sipa/Shutterstock
“The complete success of this experiment marks a significant breakthrough in our country’s research on reusable spacecraft technology,” Chinese state media agency Xinhua, suggesting that Chinese researchers have developed technology, such as heat shields and landing equipment, specifically for reusable craft.
Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian in Boston, Massachusetts, agrees that China’s experimental spacecraft could be a nod to Boeing’s X-37B spaceplane. McDowell says satellite sensing shows the spacecraft gliding and performing a runway landing at the Lop Nur military base in China’s northwest Xinjiang region, suggesting that it is a plane.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Weird alien world may be a planetary saunaStressful day at the office? Muscles need soothing? A trip to a newly described exoplanet—featuring a thick saunalike steam atmosphere—may be in order.
Read more »
African biomass burning affects aerosol cycling over the Amazon - Communications Earth & EnvironmentBiomass combustion smoke transported from Africa accounts for about 60% of black carbon concentrations in the central Amazon during the rainy season, according to long-term measurements of refractory black carbon in 2019 and 2020
Read more »
Oh Hey, There's the JUICE Probe Heading for JupiterThe spacecraft was a million miles from Earth when it was spotted by the Airbus telescope.
Read more »
Solar 'superflares' millions of times stronger than anything today may have sparked life on earthIntense solar storms may have delivered Earth its earliest building blocks of life, new research suggests.
Read more »
3 Bedding Trends That'll Give Your Bedroom an Instant Refresh3 bedding trends that'll give your bedroom an instant refresh
Read more »
Earth's ancient 'sea'crets exposed, thanks to a geologist's 462 million-year-old findIn an interview, Interesting Engineering (IE) steps into the world of Joseph Botting, one of the geologists behind the unprecedented fossil discovery.
Read more »