Space exploration is fascinating and arouses interest and curiosity in many people. Recently, a Chinese spacecraft caught the attention of the scientific community and enthusiasts alike by completing a mysterious mission in orbit.
According to a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the aircraft appears to have launched an object and subsequently captured it during the mission. This fact raised questions about its real functionality and capabilities.
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The mystery of the object launched into space
The said spacecraft ended its orbital mission after a few months. According to CSIS, a Washington-based think tank, a mysterious object was released during the mission. This object was initially launched in October 2022 and disappeared from radars in January of the following year.
According to data published by CSIS, the object reappeared on monitoring radars in March 2023. According to astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell, who monitored the spacecraft using data from the
United States Space Force, it is possible that the rover captured the object and transported it before releasing it again.This observation raises the possibility that the Chinese rover is equipped with a robotic arm or similar device capable of manipulating satellites.
McDowell points out that the East Asian nation already has experience using robotic arms. So if the Chinese rover really does have this capability, it's likely that its main function will be to repair damaged satellites or even clean up space debris.
The true function of the rover remains a mystery.
Due to the scarcity of information provided by the Chinese government about the rover, there are still few details about its exact characteristics and capabilities.
Like the Boeing X-37B – a spacecraft with probably similar characteristics – the Chinese space vehicle appears to have relatively small dimensions. The spacecraft likely made its first flight in September 2020, remaining in orbit for two days before returning to Earth.