Space Luisa Fernanda
Space, astronomy, rockets and the physics of it all.
Friday, September 4, 2026 · UTC
Launches & Rockets

Chinese spaceplane releases satellite that loops around another craft

US tracking data shows the maneuver took place in June 2026 in a crowded orbital region.

Luisa Marconi
Senior Space Correspondent
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Stands on 4 placed sources from 2 publishers.
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. [1]