US Intelligence Report Reveals Rare Image of Chinese Spaceplane

A new US intelligence report features a rare satellite image of China's secretive spaceplane and warns of orbital weapons.

United States intelligence officials have published a rare satellite image of China's secretive Shenlong spaceplane. A new Pentagon assessment warns that Beijing is rapidly expanding its orbital capabilities to track American forces. Officials caution that China could deploy space-based directed-energy weapons by the end of the decade.

• The sourceA Defense Intelligence Agency report published on Sunday included the rare spacecraft imagery.
• The timelinePentagon officials warn that directed-energy weapons in orbit could be operational by the late 2020s.
• The visualsThe unclassified photograph, credited to Maxar Technologies, reveals a shuttle-like design equipped with solar arrays.