JUST IN: China lands secret spaceplane after 276 days in orbit

The long, drawn-out saga of China’s latest spaceplane mission has come to an end, with the reusable vehicle completing a second secretive mission that lasted much longer than its first flight. China’s secretive reusable spaceplane completed its second mission Monday, landing after 276 days in orbit. China state media and the spacecraft’s maker, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. (CASC), announced the spacecraft had landed late May 8 Beijing time. The apparently successful mission was stated to be an important breakthrough in the country’s research on reusable spacecraft technology. No images, landing time nor location were revealed by the terse announcements. The project will provide a more convenient and inexpensive way to access space for the peaceful use of space in the future, according to the statement. The reusable test spacecraft launched from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert Aug. 4 (UTC), 2022. #chinaspace #chinaspaceplane #longmarch2f