U.S. DIA releases first clear image of China’s Shenlong spaceplane

U.S. DIA releases first clear image of China’s Shenlong spaceplane

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The U. S. Defense Intelligence Agency released a declassified high-resolution photograph of China’s reusable Shenlong spaceplane, showing it docked to a service module and providing new design details. The 4. 5-centimeter-per-pixel image, captured by a U. S.

military satellite, offers the clearest view yet of the vehicle’s shape and its attached module. Earlier DIA releases had shown a Maxar-captured picture of the winged vehicle and noted its similarity to the U. S. Space Force’s X-37B. The agency’s report also listed four missions flown since 2020 and warned that the platform could support directed-energy weapon development.

Actors

Vantor Defense Intelligence Agency China U.S. Space Force U.S. officials Russia

Locations

China United States Washington, DC, United States Russia

Fact Check

How these metrics work
Verdict: Insufficient evidence Confidence: 22%
At a glance

The claim that on October 27, 2026, the Defense Intelligence Agency released a higher-resolution image appearing to show a Chinese experimental reusable spaceplane has insufficient evidence.

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Articles

October 28, 2026
2 total
U.S. intelligence report includes first clear image of China's Shenlong spaceplane
U.S. intelligence report includes first clear image of China's Shenlong spaceplane

Live Science • 28 Oct 19:04

The Defense Intelligence Agency’s latest space-security report contains a declassified photograph of China’s Shenlong spaceplane, offering new details about its design and recent missions.

Credibility 72% Manip. 9% Center
US intelligence agency releases high-resolution image of China's Shenlong space plane docked in orbit
US intelligence agency releases high-resolution image of China's Shenlong space plane docked in orbit

Space • 28 Oct 15:50

A US military satellite captured a 4.5-cm-per-pixel photograph of the Chinese Shenlong space plane attached to another satellite, providing new visual details of its fourth mission.

Credibility 72% Manip. 7% Center
October 27, 2026
3 total
China's New Spaceplane Observed by Commercial Satellite, U.S. Intelligence Highlights Potential Threats
China's New Spaceplane Observed by Commercial Satellite, U.S. Intelligence Highlights Potential Threats

Ars Technica • 27 Oct 22:04

U.S. intelligence released a high-resolution image of a Chinese winged spaceplane captured by a commercial satellite, noting its similarity to the U.S. X-37B and discussing possible directed-energy weapon developments.

Credibility 72% Manip. 9% Center
U.S. DIA Confirms Image Shows Chinese Reusable Spaceplane Similar to X-37B
U.S. DIA Confirms Image Shows Chinese Reusable Spaceplane Similar to X-37B

TWZ • 27 Oct 21:33

The Defense Intelligence Agency released a higher-resolution image that appears to depict a Chinese experimental reusable spaceplane, noting its design closely resembles the U.S. Space Force’s X-37B.

Credibility 71% Manip. 14% Center
DIA Publishes First Clear Photo of China’s Reusable Spaceplane with Service Module
DIA Publishes First Clear Photo of China’s Reusable Spaceplane with Service Module

The Aviationist • 27 Oct 21:26

The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency released a Maxar-captured image showing China’s reusable orbital vehicle attached to its service module, and the report details four missions flown since 2020.

Credibility 72% Manip. 9% Center

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