This week, the US Space Force discovered a Chinese reusable space plane Launching an object into orbit, officials revealed Friday.
China launched its reusable test rocket on August 4, and kept it in orbit for 90 days. US officials have revealed that space tracking data has identified a second object in an orbit similar to the Chinese spacecraft – the nature of which is still unknown.
The 18th Space Defense Squadron of the US Space Force has determined that the object is a possible Close proximity to Chinese craft At a distance of less than 200 metres, according to Orbital Focus. The body may have detached in the week prior to Monday’s discovery.
In addition, the Chinese have not released any information or statement about the mission since its initial launch, Space News reported. How long the ship will remain in orbit is also unknown.
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The US government regularly struggles to identify flying objects: The Office of the Director of National Intelligence was only able to shut down half of the 366 unidentified flying object sightings recorded in 2021.
A Long March-5B Y4 rocket, carrying the Mengtian Laboratory module of China’s Tiangong Space Station under construction, takes off from the Wenchang spacecraft launch site in Hainan Province, China, on Monday.
(China Daily via Reuters)
However, Josh Boswell, chief correspondent for the Daily Mail, told Tucker Carlson, a large portion of those unexplained cases could end up with Chinese drones.
“The unexplained things don’t have any evidence, because these things move in ways we don’t understand,” Boswell said, citing government sources. “At supersonic speeds, and then only a dime run. I mean, it’s unbelievable.”
U.S. Air Force Deputy Commandant Lt. Gen. David Thompson, left, and retired Air Force Colonel Pamela Melroy testify before the Senate Air and Space Subcommittee at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on May 14, 2019.
(Chip somophila/Getty Images)
China’s progress in space technology That alarmed US officials, with General David Thompson of the Space Force saying during the Halifax International Security Forum last year that “threats are growing and expanding every day.”
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“It’s really an evolution of the activity that’s been going on for a long time,” Thompson said. “We’re really at a point right now where there’s a whole bunch of ways our space systems can be threatened.”
The laboratory module of China’s Mengtian Space Station and the Long March-5B Y4 rocket are moved to the launch area at the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center in southern China’s Hainan Province on October 25, 2022.
(Tu Haichao/Xinhua via The Associated Press)
Thompson had discussed an unspecified number of attacks on US space assets that resulted in “reversible” damage but could grow in importance in the coming years.
The experimental ship and the mysterious second object may be related to the development of an orbital part of a fully reusable two-stage space transfer system to orbit, which has received national funding from the Natural Science Foundation of China.
However, China still has some kinks to work on in its new systems: a 21-ton Chinese missile that was expected to crash near Spain ended up instead of crashing off the coast of Mexico. Authorities in both countries have had to close airports and rush in the respective Air Force units to track and contain any potential damage, according to Outlet AS.
Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer with the Center for Astrophysics, likened the uncontrolled return to china rolling dice She described the move as “irresponsible”.
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