These objects, designated OBJECT A, B, C, D, E, and F, are now being closely monitored by the U.S. Space Force and amateur observers.

The third mission of the Shenlong spaceplane, named "Divine Dragon," commenced on December 14, and immediately after, the deployment of the six objects took place. The U.S. Department of Defense has assigned official NORAD TLE designations of 58573 through to 58577, and 58581 to these mysterious objects.

Amateur astronomer and satellite tracker, Scott Tilley, has been diligently analyzing the characteristics of these objects and shared his findings with Space.com. Tilley discovered that OBJECT A emitted signals similar to those observed during previous Chinese spaceplane missions, referred to as "wingman" emissions. These signals, with their limited data modulation, suggest a possible connection to China's earlier space activities. Interestingly, OBJECTs D and E emitted intermittent "placeholder" signals void of data, which were noticeable for their brevity, according to Tilley's observations.

Of particular interest is the modulation of these unique signals at 2,280 MHz, a frequency previously associated with Chinese spaceplane missions. Coupled with their proximity to the predicted orbital paths of the objects, experts like Tilley are confident in linking these signals to the newly launched items.

Tilley emphasized the importance of continued observation in the coming days, as OBJECT A, in a near-circular orbit, is expected to have close encounters with OBJECTs D and E, both in elliptical orbits. These rendezvous are anticipated to occur at perigee, the points in their orbits closest to Earth.

This deployment of unknown objects by Shenlong is not the first of its kind. In previous missions in September 2020 and August 2022, the spaceplane released similar unidentified objects into orbit, prompting speculation about their purpose. SpaceNews suggests that these objects could serve as service modules, inspector satellites, or test items for orbital placement. Moreover, in November of the previous year, another mystery object was released by China's spaceplane, potentially serving as a service module to aid in the spacecraft's return to Earth.

Meanwhile, the United States operates its own reusable robotic spaceplane, the Boeing-built X-37B. After multiple delays, the U.S. Space Force plans to launch the X-37B aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket on December 28, paralleling China's activities in the realm of space exploration.

As the intrigue surrounding China's Shenlong spaceplane deepens, further observation and analysis of these deployed objects will undoubtedly shed light on their purpose and potential implications for the future of space exploration.