China's mysterious spacecraft has been filmed for the first time.

Images of a Chinese spacecraft in orbit, captured through a 14-inch telescope by Felix Schofbanker in Austria.

The mysterious Shenlong spacecraft, launched into Earth orbit on December 14, 2023, by a Long March 2F rocket, was captured on camera for the first time by a veteran satellite observer in Austria.

Previously, China had never released images of the Shenlong, nor had it mentioned the ship's specific mission.

Using a 14-inch telescope and state-of-the-art satellite tracking equipment, Schofbanker discovered two structures resembling solar panels at the end of the spacecraft, a feature never before seen in any existing graphic renderings.

"I'm not really sure if it's a solar panel or something like an antenna or something similar," Schofbanker told Space.com . The observer estimated the spacecraft to be about 10 meters long, slightly larger than the U.S. Air Force's X-37B spacecraft.

Within the scope of its current mission, in June, Shenlong was observed releasing an object, which then moved several kilometers away from the object before returning and remaining several hundred meters away.

Shenlong adjusted its altitude from its normal orbit of about 350 km to 600 km and back, demonstrating its flexible operating range.

Mysterious Chinese spacecraft has once again launched an unidentified object into orbit.

Shenlong, an unmanned and reusable spacecraft, was launched into orbit by a rocket and landed at a secret military airfield. Observers believe China is using this spacecraft to test various technologies, such as satellite manipulation or hijacking.

Tracking data indicates that the Chinese spacecraft was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launching Site in Gansu Province and landed at a mysterious military airfield in Lop Nur (Xinjiang). This location is linked to past nuclear tests and is now under tight control by the Chinese military.

This is the third mission of the Shenlong spacecraft, following its previous mission in August 2022, which lasted 276 days. The first flight in September 2020 lasted only two days.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tau-khong-gian-bi-an-cua-trung-quoc-lan-dau-bi-ghi-hinh-185240806154821742.htm