Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Analysts keep close eye on China's mystery space plane
MSNBC ^ | 11/9/2012 5:24:08 PM ET | Leonard David

Posted on 11/09/2012 10:43:34 PM PST by null and void


A close-up of China's robotic Shenlong space plane prototype tucked beneath a Chinese H-6 bomber for glide testing in December 2007.

Last year several Chinese media outlets reported a test flight of the Shenlong space plane that apparently included its airdrop from an H-6 bomber.

Several China watchers in the U.S. have taken a stab at what the Shenlong (Mandarin for "Divine Dragon) might mean, with some experts conjecturing that the craft is simply a tit-for-tat response to the unmanned X-37B space plane.


This December 2007 image shows China's robotic Shenlong space plane prototype carried by an H-6 bomber during testing.


This comparative chart shows China’s Shenlong and the U.S. Air Force X-37B space plane.

Space-to-ground military operations

Other China space program watchdogs are mindful of the military origins of the country's space efforts.

"Given regular People’s Liberation Army writings about the importance of space-to-ground military operations in the future, something like an X-43 (an unmanned experimental hypersonic aircraft) or X-37B would also have appeal, as a likely pathway for military purposes," Cheng said.


This is an alleged screenshot of coverage by China’s official military television channel depicting a Shenlong test flight.

The bottom line

depending on its precise nature, Shenlong’s reported test may turn out to be part of a larger trend: a shrinking time gap between when the U.S. discloses a prototype military system and when China publicly shows a system similar in type —if not equal in capabilities or immediately operational.

"Beijing’s development of space plane programs is broad-based, and their trajectory will represent a key barometer of its civil and military space intentions."

(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS:
Nothing to see here, move along...
1 posted on 11/09/2012 10:43:38 PM PST by null and void
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: null and void

Egg Flew Hung


2 posted on 11/09/2012 10:51:42 PM PST by bunkerhill7 (yup)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: null and void

You can bet they didn’t outsource any of their parts.


3 posted on 11/09/2012 10:52:56 PM PST by dfwgator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: null and void

Didn’t they just roll out our F-22? Uh, ur.. I mean THEIR version of it? Just think, China has four more years FREE access to our most sensitive data and probably more!


4 posted on 11/09/2012 10:54:04 PM PST by GeorgeWashingtonsGhost
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: null and void
Struggling here to find an upside to this story and
similar stories to come in the four additional years
of very bad news for our country.
...
... Hmmm. No.
...
... Okay, here's something. We still get to read a little
about China's intended plans for their future.


5 posted on 11/09/2012 11:02:58 PM PST by bd476
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bd476

“And I for one welcome our new Chinese overlords.”


6 posted on 11/09/2012 11:03:59 PM PST by dfwgator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

China is a doomed state—inner politics will destroy it from within-— Upheavals will pull down all they have built up. You can’t preach Communism to the masses and live like princes of a capitalist state. One day it will blow up in their faces.


7 posted on 11/09/2012 11:29:52 PM PST by Forward the Light Brigade (Into the Jaws of H*ll)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator
Heh, if only this were just a cartoon, or a movie, or a meme.

By the way, in case you didn't know, the Simpson's writer of
the original line turned meme supposedly got his inspiration
from watching this movie.


8 posted on 11/09/2012 11:34:26 PM PST by bd476
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Forward the Light Brigade
China is a doomed state—inner politics will destroy it from within-— Upheavals will pull down all they have built up. You can’t preach Communism to the masses and live like princes of a capitalist state. One day it will blow up in their faces.

You could just about substitute "America" for China, there.

9 posted on 11/09/2012 11:40:07 PM PST by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: null and void
It's a lot easier and less expensive for them to build this when they've been sold/given our technology by our RAT’s.
10 posted on 11/09/2012 11:52:46 PM PST by fella ("As it was before Noah, so shall it be again,")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: null and void

Are we done with those hypersonic thingies yet? I wish the
slide rule boys would get cracking a finish.

I want to test one on that new Chinese carrier.


11 posted on 11/10/2012 12:14:29 AM PST by NeverForgetBataan (I am become Barry... destroyer of wealth)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Forward the Light Brigade
China is a doomed state [...]

Stop trying to cheer me up!

Seriously, in my estimation, China is the only other country on the planet with a viable chance to displace the U.S. economically, technologically, and militarily - within this century. My only hope rests with the phenomenon you've described, plus the possibility of a demographic implosion.

Regards,

12 posted on 11/10/2012 12:20:24 AM PST by alexander_busek (Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Forward the Light Brigade
You can’t preach Communism to the masses and live like princes of a capitalist state. One day it will blow up in their faces.

Unfortunately, that has been the standard political model throughout much of human history; an elite ruling class or king with the mass of proletariats, surfs, commoners, plebeians beholden to them. It is those rare times in human history where the public overthrows the Princeps.

13 posted on 11/10/2012 6:28:45 AM PST by Flick Lives
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: GeorgeWashingtonsGhost
The saying here in Silicon Valley is:

Half the Chinese who are here are spying on us.
The other half are spying on them!

14 posted on 11/10/2012 7:37:21 AM PST by null and void (The One can steal an election, but no one can steal our country.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: bd476
Asimov had a somewhat different take; imagine the utter horror of being trapped, TRAPPED! in a world of giant aunts...
15 posted on 11/10/2012 7:43:42 AM PST by null and void (The One can steal an election, but no one can steal our country.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: null and void

Sad thing is, you’re not joking. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. When you see someone asking too many questions, and about things not relevant to their jobs; red alert!


16 posted on 11/10/2012 2:49:43 PM PST by GeorgeWashingtonsGhost
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson