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An unknown object has been spotted over an isolated airstrip in northwest China, raising speculation about its origin and purpose in a hard-to-reach region.
A mysterious object has been captured on satellite images over a remote airfield in northwest China, close to the nuclear test site of Lop Nur. The landing strip, already associated with the China's reusable spaceplane program, is once again in the spotlight after the new discovery.
The images, dated November 29, were obtained by Planet Labs and published by the portal The War zone.
The object, white in color and about 32 feet (approx. 10 m) long, has a curious shape, with a wedge-shaped shadow that suggests possible short wings at one end.
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Although its exact function remains a mystery, it was positioned at the southwest end of the extensive runway of more than 16.400 ft (approx. 5 km), one of the longest in the world.
Support vehicles and equipment were also identified nearby, as was a row of vehicles in the main yard of the facility, which has undergone significant expansion in recent years.
Clues and possibilities
The landing strip in question has a history of associations with reusable spaceplane projects with military applications.
In September 2020, it was speculated that one of these craft had landed on the local after a space mission. The size of the recently observed object is comparable to the X-37B, a secret mini-space shuttle of the US Space Force. However, there is no concrete evidence that the two programs are related.
The images also reveal that the object is not directly linked to the return to Earth of an experimental Chinese reusable spacecraft in September this year.
Chinese authorities had announced the return after 268 days in orbit, but the object identified on the runway appears to be in an unsuitable location for a post-mission recovery process.
Spacecraft are typically held on the runway for short periods of time for maintenance, such as removing remaining fuel or payloads. These procedures do not justify a prolonged presence of weeks or months.
Training or testing in China?
If the object is indeed related to a spaceplane, it may be serving training purposes for ground operations.
Alternatively, it may be a test article used for technological or logistical evaluations.
Observers point out that if the object's design includes delta wings, it would be in line with some assumptions about the shape of China's reusable spaceplanes.
In September, Austrian space observer Felix Schöfbänker captured images of a Chinese spaceplane in orbit, suggesting a delta-wing design. This detail may be related to the wedge-shaped shadow cast by the object on the Lop Nur airstrip.
History of Chinese projects
China has invested heavily in reusable spacecraft programs. While photos of these projects are rare, a few renderings and mockups have emerged over the years.
In 2007, images showed the Shenlong design (“Divine Dragon”), hanging beneath the fuselage of a People's Liberation Army H-6 bomber. More recently, a full-scale model of the Haolong was seen on display at the Zhuhai Airshow.
Haolong, developed by Chengdu, a subsidiary of Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), is designed to resupply the Tiangong space station.
Despite the advances, it cannot be ruled out that the object identified on the track is something completely different. A remote facility with such a long runway offers a variety of possibilities for aerospace testing away from prying eyes.
Military context and related tests
In the same period that the object was captured in satellite images, a Notice for Air Missions (NOTAM) was issued for a region southwest of the Lop Nur runway.
This area housed large-scale targets representing warships, including the USS Gerald R. Ford, the U.S. Navy's newest aircraft carrier.
Additional imagery suggests the NOTAM may be related to weapons testing, with a destroyer-shaped target featuring a large impact area in the center.
These tests are in line with China's strategy of developing long-range anti-ship capabilities. The PLA has been investing in ballistic missiles capable of hitting moving vessels, a crucial part of its access denial doctrine.
Future implications and possible developments
Reusable spaceplanes also represent a strategic asset. They could be used to rapidly launch satellites or other payloads, act as intelligence-gathering platforms or anti-satellite weapons.
China has invested heavily in these technologies, seeking to expand its presence and influence in space.
Now we just have to wait for new developments to uncover the true purpose of the object that intrigues experts around the world.
