China Launches Shenlong Reusable Space Plane on Fourth Secretive Mission

China has launched its secretive reusable Shenlong space plane into orbit for the fourth time, continuing its series of missions since 2020. Official details about the spacecraft's design, payload, and objectives remain limited, with Chinese authorities describing it as a technology test for future peaceful space use. The Shenlong is believed to operate autonomously in low Earth orbit and resembles the U.S. X-37B spaceplane, prompting international speculation about its capabilities and mission duration.