Aerospace

Is China’s mysterious space plane about to return to Earth?

The mysterious Chinese spacecraft’s most recent orbital mission may be coming to an end. According to astronomer and satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, the hidden vehicle, which was launched into Earth orbit on August 4, ejected something on Oct.31.

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According to McDowell of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, the recently released object “may be a service module, possibly indicating an upcoming deorbit burn.” McDowell made this statement on Twitter on Monday.

The Chinese spaceplane launched on Aug 4 was in a 597 x 608 km x 50.0 deg orbit as of Oct 31; at around 1200 UTC it ejected an object (52418) that may be a service module, possibly indicating an upcoming deorbit burn

— Jonathan McDowell (@planet4589) November 1, 2022

“Small companion satellites called “Banxing” were previously launched by Chinese crew capsules for surveillance purposes. It might also serve as a trial for placing tiny satellite payloads in orbit.”

Whatever the object is, if one previous data point is any indication, it will likely signal the mission’s impending end. The Chinese spacecraft has completed only one other orbital mission, a two-day excursion in September 2020 that came to an abrupt end following a similar ejection, as Jones pointed out.

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“Reusable and in-orbit service technology verification will be carried out as planned during the test spacecraft’s time in orbit before returning to the planned landing site in China to provide technical support for the peaceful use of space,” the statement reads.

The program’s sixth-ever mission took off on May 17, 2020, so the X-37B has been in the air for a while now. When the X-37B will land on Earth again is unknown.

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Aerospace

When Ratan Tata was denied entry to the airfield at the Aero India show, he waited

During our visit to Aero India 2019, we had the unexpected opportunity to see Ratan Tata at the event, which was a thrilling moment for us. However, there was a surprising hiccup when the security staff didn’t allow him to enter due to a lack of a security pass.

Despite this, he remained calm and patiently waited for about 20 minutes until a member of the Tata team brought him the required pass, after which he calmly proceeded inside. It was a humbling sight, showcasing his composed demeanor even in such situations.

Ratan Tata ji is not only a renowned industrialist but also a trained pilot, holding a pilot’s license. In 2007, he became the first Indian civilian to fly the F-16 Falcon during the Aero India show in Bangalore—a proud moment for the nation.

His passion for aviation extended beyond flying, as he played a key role in shaping India’s aerospace industry. Under his leadership, Tata ventured into manufacturing and maintaining aerospace components while upholding its legacy of quality. Notably, Tata’s collaboration with Airbus to develop and manufacture the C295 aircraft is a testament to its growing influence in the sector.