China's Mysterious Spaceplane Raises Orbit Nearly 3 Months After Launch

We haven't heard from China's space plane since early August. For reasons that aren't completely clear, the spaceplane recently fired its thrusters to ascend to a higher and more circular circle.

The Long March 2F carrier rocket was used to launch the re-enactment. The experimental vehicle flew at a higher altitude and for a longer period of time than its predecessors.

The spaceplane stayed at an altitude of about 50 degrees above the equator. According to SpaceNews, experts noted a change in the satellite's position on October 23, when it was raised to a near-circular 372 by 378 miles.

The Chinese government stated at the time of its launch that it would stay in space for a period of time.

A spaceplane is a hybrid airplane-spacecraft vehicle that launches to space. While operating like a regular aircraft in Earth's atmosphere, the vehicle acts like a spaceship in space, allowing it to complete missions in space and then return to the surface.