“I am not really sure if they are solar panels or some other features like an antenna or something of that nature,” he added on Monday.

Altitude, time, and angle details during Shenlong’s sighting on July 30, 2024. Credit: Felix Schöfbänker

Altitude, time, and angle details during Shenlong’s sighting on July 30, 2024.

Credit: Felix Schöfbänker

Additional information inferred from the data includes apparent confirmation that the space plane recently lowered its orbit down to about 217 miles above Earth, and that it does appear to measure somewhere within its previously estimated 30-foot length. Although its wings are not visible in the grainy imagery, it is still believed that Shenlong’s wingspan is at least wide enough to necessitate small cutouts in China’s Long March 2F rocket used to deliver it into orbit. 

Shenlong isn’t the only experimental space plane currently conducting secretive missions above Earth. The US Space Force’s X-37B, built by Boeing and slightly smaller China’s aircraft, has been working on its own endeavors since its latest launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket on December 28, 2023. Two Boeing X-37 variants are believed to exist, and have completed six previous missions so far—its last excursion lasting a total of 909 days in orbit.