Analysis of Developments in the Space Domain
4 Sep 2020: China launched some kind of reusable spacecraft into space — possibly a spaceplane — a mysterious vehicle that is drawing comparisons to the US’s classified X-37B
– On December 11, 2007, the Chinese media published an
image of a winged spacecraft mounted on a wing of an H- 6K bomber. This was the first public acknowledgment that China was developing a reusable winged space system very similar to the X-37.
– China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. (CASC) is believed to be the lead developer.
–2017 statement from Chen Hongbo, from CASC’s China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT)
FLASHBACK 27 March 2019: India Direct Ascent ASAT Kinetic Intercept
– Indian Government Fact Sheet: “The test was done to verify that India has the capability to safeguard our space assets.”
The missile reportedly hit the satellite with an accuracy of less than 10 cm. A prime motivation for the test was likely to ensure India would be grandfathered into any future ban on DA-ASAT testing.
