Recently, China and the United States have launched a series of actions in the field of space, which has aroused the attention and speculation of the outside world. The U.S. Space Force's X-37B spaceplane is scheduled to launch this month, but has suffered multiple delays and cancellations. At the same time, China also successfully launched a reusable test spacecraft this month, demonstrating the progress and strength of its space technology. Admiral Saltzman, chief of operations of the US Space Force, said at a conference that the Chinese spacecraft of the same kind could be launched at about the same time as the X-37B, "perhaps not by coincidence."
The X-37B spaceplane is an unmanned and reusable spaceplane developed by Boeing in the United States, which is considered the prototype of the future space fighter. Launched into space by a rocket, the aircraft can fly in orbit of the Earth's satellites and enter the atmosphere, and at the same time automatically return to the ground after the mission is over. Since its first launch in 2010, the aircraft has flown six missions, the most recent of which began on May 17, 2020, and ended 908 days later on November 12, 2022, setting a record for the X-37B's stay in orbit.
This month, the U.S. Space Force was scheduled to launch the seventh mission of the X-37B, but encountered a series of difficulties and setbacks. First, the launch date was postponed to December 10 for a number of reasons. Then, due to the weather, the launch mission was postponed for another day. In the end, due to "ground problems", SpaceX canceled the launch plan and did not set a new launch date. These unexpected changes have thrown the U.S. Space Force's plans into chaos and embarrassment.
Admiral Saltzman said at the "Space Power" conference on the 12th that he remains confident in the launch of the X-37B, and confirmed the information released by the previous Space Force that the X-37B will operate in a higher orbit than before. "We will expand the scope of the X-37B's mission," he said. There were some new experiments and tests, which were the main goal of the test task. He also revealed that the future of the X-37B is brighter than ever, as it will face competition and challenges from China.
According to Xinhua News Agency, China has successfully launched a reusable test spacecraft using the Long March-2F carrier rocket at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on December 14. This is the first time that China has launched such a spaceplane, and it is also an important breakthrough in China's reusable spacecraft technology research. After a period of orbit operation, the test spacecraft will return to the scheduled landing site in China, during which it will carry out reusable technology verification and space science experiments as planned to provide technical support for the peaceful use of space.
Asked at the conference about China's plans to launch similar spacecraft, Admiral Saltzman said: "It's not surprising that the Chinese are very interested in our spaceplanes." We are also very interested in their products. Because it represents the ability to put a spacecraft into orbit, do something, and then bring it back to the surface, and see the results, that ability is very important. He also hinted that it may not be a coincidence that the Chinese side is trying to match the time and sequence of launches with the US side. "When they're in orbit, they're the two targets that get the most attention," he said. ”
Competition and cooperation between China and the United States in the field of space has always been a hot topic in the international community. Both countries have advanced space technology and ambitious space programs, but there are also some differences and frictions. The two countries' spaceplane programs are a prime example of how they demonstrate both countries' space capabilities and capabilities, as well as their space strategies and intentions. Whether the spaceplanes of the two countries will meet in space, whether there will be conflict or cooperation, are all unknowns for future space exploration.