Shenlong Orbital Test Vehicle Fact Sheet
The Shenlong program represents China’s most advanced reusable orbital spaceplane initiative. This fact sheet explores the vehicle’s mission objectives, deployment history, and the ongoing debate over its potential military utility.
Shenlong is believed to serve as a technology demonstrator, testing systems for:
- Reusable launch vehicle development
- On-orbit satellite servicing and inspection
- Sensor and hardware validation
As of June 2025, Shenlong has completed three known orbital missions, all launched via Long March 2F rockets from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and concluding with runway landings at Lop Nur.
Key milestones include:
- Deployment of subsatellites on all three missions
- Demonstrated rendezvous and proximity operations with those subsatellites
- Increasing orbital durations—from 2 days to over 260 days
- Orbit raising and independent maneuvering by both Shenlong and its deployed payloads
Though some analysts have speculated about dual-use or ASAT potential, the fact sheet concludes that Shenlong’s practical utility as a kinetic weapon delivery system is negligible due to payload and orbital limitations. However, its proximity operations, capture/docking, and propulsion capabilities raise persistent questions about co-orbital applications.
The fact sheet also highlights concerns over transparency and international norms:
- No Shenlong mission or subsatellite has been registered with the UN as required under the Registration Convention
- China releases minimal official data, and third-party SSA sources continue to fill critical observational gaps
See the flight history table on page 1 for launch/landing dates and mission durations
Detailed mission events and orbital maneuvers on pages 2–3 illustrate Shenlong’s delta-v and proximity capabilities
