Chinese Spaceplane Releases Mysterious Object in Orbit Months After Launch (gizmodo.com)

submitted 3 months ago by jeffw@lemmy.world to c/world@lemmy.world

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[-] MrNesser@lemmy.world 5 points 3 months ago

Sir it looks like a giant....

[-] random_character_a@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago

"Commence Operation Vac-U-Suck!"

[-] autotldr@lemmings.world 4 points 3 months ago

This is the best summary I could come up with:

China’s curious spaceplane is at it again, releasing an unidentified object into orbit that could signal the end of its mysterious mission.

“This object could be a subsatellite deployment, or it could be a piece of hardware ejected prior to end of mission and deorbit (the spaceplane’s first flight did something similar)“ he wrote.

The recent unidentified object, as McDowell suggests, could mean that the spaceplane is getting ready to land soon after 164 days in orbit.

The spaceplane’s inaugural flight took place in 2020, when it stayed in orbit for only two days before landing back on Earth.

If proven successful, spaceplanes could become valuable reusable spacecraft, meeting the growing demand for satellite launches and other missions needing transportation to space.

The U.S. Space Force launched the X-37B aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket on December 28 for its seventh mission.

The original article contains 423 words, the summary contains 142 words. Saved 66%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

[-] KISSmyOSFeddit@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago

China has a space plane that can reach orbit?

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago

Why not? They have a space station and they are able to get to the Moon and Mars.

[-] SlothMama@lemmy.world 0 points 3 months ago

Wait what?

[-] nahuse@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 months ago

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_space_program

[-] SlothMama@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago

Yeah, but your claim is being and to go to Mars with the space station

[-] nahuse@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 months ago

Not my claim.

And my understanding of the person you responded to is that China has a space station, and they are capable of travel to both the Moon and Mars.

You seemed surprised at that, so I went ahead and gave you a Wikipedia that’s all about China’s space program.

[-] SlothMama@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago

Oh my apologies, I was skeptical about a space station that could go to Mars as that's why I thought that meant by their wording.

Maybe they didn't mean it like that

[-] johnefrancis@lemmy.ca 1 points 3 months ago

guy has been up there quite a while, nobody wants to land with a big bag of turds rattling around

this post was submitted on 29 May 2024

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