China’s space plane has successfully completed its third mission, returning to Earth after spending over eight months in orbit.

The spacecraft landed at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on September 6, 2024, after launching on December 14, 2023.

While details about the space plane’s capabilities remain unclear, it is expected to advance future space travel.

The mission included deploying a small object, potentially a subsatellite, and conducting rendezvous and proximity operations, which could be used for satellite maintenance or other strategic purposes, Space.com has reported.

The space plane’s mission coincided with the delayed launch of the U.S. Space Force’s X-37B, another classified space vehicle. India is also developing a reusable space plane named Pushpak.

Written by B.C. Begley