China Advances Reusable Spacecraft Program with Fourth Successful Launch
China has marked another milestone in its reusable spacecraft program with the successful fourth launch of its unmanned spaceplane. The Long March-2F rocket carried the experimental vehicle from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, underscoring Beijing's progress in space technology.
The mission focuses on verifying reusable systems to reduce orbital access costs—a strategic advantage in the intensifying space race with the U.S. State media Xinhua framed the effort as supporting 'peaceful use of outer space,' though technical details remain classified. Dubbed 'Shenlong' by enthusiasts, the spacecraft's two-day inaugural flight in 2020 demonstrated China's rapid iteration capability.