China's Secret "Divine Dragon" Space Plane Finally Caught on Camera: What the New Photo Reveals
In a stunning revelation that's sending shockwaves through the space intelligence community, the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) has inadvertently released what appears to be the first clear photograph of China's highly classified Shenlong space plane in orbit. The image, buried deep on page 53 of a 130-page report, offers an unprecedented glimpse at one of the world's most mysterious spacecraft.
The Photo That Changed Everything
The image was captured in 2024 by a satellite belonging to Vantor (formerly Maxar Technologies) and shows the Shenlong—whose name translates to "Divine Dragon"—docked to another satellite with its solar panels deployed. What makes this photo truly remarkable is its clarity: taken from 56 miles (90 kilometers) away with a resolution of 4.5 centimeters per pixel, it reveals details that ground-based observers could never hope to capture.
For the first time, we can clearly see Shenlong's delta wings, dark heat shield, rear-mounted service module with power-generating solar arrays, and open payload bay doors. The spacecraft's design bears an unmistakable resemblance to its American counterpart, the Boeing-built X-37B.
"The Chinese spaceplane has delta wings, payload bay doors, a dark heat shield, and a rear-mounted service module with power-generating solar arrays," ArsTechnica reported. "In other words, the design of the winged ship is, to a great degree, a copy of the X-37B spaceplane flown by the U.S. Space Force."
A Tale of Two Space Planes
The comparison between Shenlong and the X-37B is inevitable. Both are reusable, robotic space planes that launch vertically on rockets and glide back to Earth for refurbishment and relaunch. Both have conducted multiple classified missions in low Earth orbit. And both remain shrouded in secrecy, with governments releasing only the barest details about their capabilities and purposes.
However, there are notable differences. Global Defense News notes that "the overall arrangement resembles the American vehicle, although differences in wing geometry show that the two spacecraft are not externally identical." The exact dimensions of Shenlong remain unknown, though the X-37B measures 29 feet long with a 15-foot wingspan.
The timing of the photo's release is particularly interesting. It comes as both nations jockey for position in what many observers are calling a new Space Race. In February 2025, the U.S. Space Force released its first photo of the X-37B in orbit, showing it in high Earth orbit with its payload bay doors open. The following year, they released an official painting depicting an X-37B-like space plane intercepting another satellite—a rare artistic representation of military space operations.
What Is Shenlong Actually Doing Up There?
Since its first mission in September 2020, Shenlong has completed four missions and accumulated over 800 days in orbit. The space plane has repeatedly made headlines for deploying unidentified objects in low Earth orbit—at least nine payloads so far, according to tracking data.
In June 2026, American space intelligence company LeoLabs detected a new object near Shenlong. "Following additional observations across our global network and analysis via LeoLabs Delta, we have independently cataloged this object and assessed with high confidence that it was released from the Chinese space plane," the company stated. "This activity is consistent with sub-satellite deployments conducted by the space plane in previous missions."
But it's not just about releasing objects. The DIA report notes that during Shenlong's second mission in November 2022, the space plane "appeared to maneuver with a companion satellite," coming within 330 feet (100 meters) of the smaller spacecraft and potentially even capturing and re-releasing it. This suggests Shenlong may be practicing rendezvous and proximity operations—critical skills for satellite servicing, inspection, or potentially more sinister purposes.
China's space agency has stated only that Shenlong helps test technologies that "will pave the way for more convenient and affordable round-trip methods for the peaceful use of space in the future." But like all things military space, few details have been released to the public.
The Bigger Picture: Space Race 2.0
The release of this image—whether intentional or accidental—raises important questions about transparency and intelligence in the new space age. Neither the photo's caption nor the related section of the DIA report mentioned that it was the first of its kind or explained why it had been previously classified.
Some analysts believe the image's inclusion may have been a way for military and intelligence agencies to "tease capabilities without fully revealing them to the public," as the race for space superiority intensifies. Others suggest the authors may not have realized the significance of what they were publishing.
What's clear is that both China and the United States are developing sophisticated space-based capabilities, and neither is eager to share details. The DIA report explicitly warns that "China has developed and will continue to advance weapons for use against satellites in orbit to disrupt, damage, and destroy other nations' space capabilities."
Yet the new image also offers a counterpoint to the most alarmist interpretations. Global Defense News notes that "the image does not establish a weapons role" for Shenlong, suggesting the spacecraft may be primarily focused on reconnaissance, technology testing, and satellite servicing rather than offensive operations.
What Comes Next?
As Shenlong continues its fourth mission, which launched in February 2026, observers around the world will be watching closely. Will it deploy more mysterious objects? Will it conduct more rendezvous operations with other satellites? And will China ever release its own photos of its secretive space plane?
For now, this single image from a commercial satellite offers a rare window into one of the most closely guarded programs in modern spaceflight. It shows us that China has developed a sophisticated reusable space plane that looks remarkably similar to America's own—a testament to the convergent evolution of military space technology.
But it also reminds us how much we still don't know. In the vast expanse of low Earth orbit, two space planes circle the planet, their missions classified, their capabilities unknown, their purposes the subject of endless speculation. The Space Race continues, and the Dragon has shown its face—but only just.
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*The DIA's "Challenges to Security in Space" report is available through official government channels. The Shenlong space plane remains in orbit as of this writing.*