LOW EARTH ORBIT — The Chinese Shenlong space plane deployed an unidentified object on June 22, 2025. LeoLabs detected the unknown object in the vicinity of the spacecraft on that day using a radar in New Zealand.

LeoLabs representatives stated they "independently cataloged this object and assessed with high confidence that it was released from the Chinese space plane." Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer and satellite tracking expert at Durham University, confirmed the new object originated from Shenlong and was being tracked by the U.S. Space Force. McDowell said, "it could be a 'cubesat' — a small, often box-like satellite frequently deployed as a secondary payload alongside larger spacecraft."

Shenlong is a reusable, robotic spacecraft that launches into low Earth orbit on vertical rockets and lands via a horizontal runway. The spacecraft has spent nearly 700 cumulative days in low Earth orbit. Shenlong launched on a two-day mission in September 2020. It completed an eight-month mission between August 2022 and May 2023, and a nine-month mission between December 2023 and September 2024. An image captured in August 2024 showed a bright appendage extending from the spacecraft.

The Shenlong space plane has deployed at least nine payloads since 2022. It released its first payload shortly after the launch of its second mission. During its third mission, Shenlong deployed seven objects, six of which were ejected simultaneously. Shenlong's fourth mission began on February 7 with a launch atop a Long March 2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

From January 2021 to January 2025, China abandoned 51 spent rocket bodies in low Earth orbit above 650 kilometers. The total number of spent rocket bodies abandoned by China in low Earth orbit above 650 kilometers is 96. China accounted for 86 percent of the global number of rocket bodies left in low Earth orbit above 650 kilometers during this period. The mass of abandoned rocket bodies from China above 650 kilometers rose from 91 kilograms to 305 kilograms. Conversely, the United States left four spent rocket bodies in low Earth orbit above 650 kilometers from January 2021 to January 2025, and Russia left one.

China stated in a June 11 submission to the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space that it follows the 25-year debris mitigation rule. International best-practice guidelines signed by more than 60 nations mandate measures to reduce the risks of on-orbit explosions. Victoria Samson, chief director of space security and stability at the Secure World Foundation, stated, "This can have serious consequences for US national security." The U.S. Space Force tracks the newly deployed object.