Andrew Jones Profile picture
Journalist tracking China's space programme. Correspondent at @SpaceNews_Inc; @SPACEdotcom @exploreplanets @IEEESpectrum | @AndrewJonesSpace@universeodon.com

Sep 18, 2020, 5 tweets

The object (2020-063G; 46395) released by China's reusable experimental spacecraft/possible spaceplane before it deorbited remains in a 331 x 347 km orbit incl. by 50.21°. Little known, but a few clues. n2yo.com/?s=46395&live=1

It is known to be transmitting, meaning it's a satellite with some purpose. It may be that it is simply a test of the reusable experimental spacecraft to successfully release payloads in orbit.

It is also possibly tumbling, according to data received by another radio tracker.

US military space surveillance, through which we first became aware of the object, now rates it as 'large' (but this means only that it is bigger than 1 sq. metre. No comparison possible with payloads released by U.S. AF's X-37B.

China has not registered the object with UNOOSA, but they are not required to do so. Might be some time before we learn anything new about this -- if at all.

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