A secretive Chinese spaceplane released a small satellite in June 2026 that subsequently looped around another Chinese satellite before returning toward the spaceplane, according to US space-tracking firm LeoLabs.
The object was released in an orbital region crowded with commercial and military satellites.
Chinese researchers linked to the military are developing technologies for satellites to pursue and even capture other spacecraft.
LeoLabs reported that the satellite orbited another Chinese satellite before returning to the spaceplane.
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By Luisa Marconi · 5w