China’s top-secret space shuttle is sending a powerful signal over North America, months after the United States shot down a Chinese spy balloon gathering intelligence from military sites

China’s top-secret space shuttle launched into orbit last week is sending a strong message over North America.

The spacecraft, called Shenlong, named after the dragon in Chinese mythology, released six mysterious objects after reaching Earth’s orbit for the third time in three years.

The U.S. Space Force is tracking the objects but has not released any details about what they are or what they are used for.

Amateur astronomer Scott Tilley has been tracking the planes and examining the signals they send out.

He told the Daily Mail they seemed to give the strongest signal when flying over North America.

Just 10 months ago, the United States shot down a Chinese spy who would have been gathering intelligence while flying over multiple military locations.

Tilley said he believed the signals were targeted at ground stations or ships near British Columbia, Canada, where he lives.

“When the space shuttle passes over me, it only emits signals along a specific path, which seems to favor a position south to southwest of me.

“That is, there was no signal when it passed above me at higher altitudes, but all my observations of the object occurred when it was surrounded by ocean to the southwest of me.”

Tilly is working with a Swiss organization that specializes in optical band space surveillance, and both parties have been keeping a close eye on the aircraft since its launch on December 15.

The U.S. Department of Defense has designated six objects as OBJECT A through F.

Tilly and the Swiss team labeled the spacecraft “Object A,” which “has now been identified as a test spacecraft by the U.S. Space Force.”

Object B was “extremely bright” and “during several passes exhibited characteristics that we would rather associate with upper stages,” according to S2A systemSwiss team.

“The light curve of the D object also indicates stable attitude control,” the team continued.

“Object C appears to be a faint fragment that is spinning rapidly. Object F is also quite faint, but no rotation has been detected.

“We will conduct further measurements in the coming weeks.”

Objects E and D are considered satellites.

“The suspected Space Shuttle A object sent a signal,” Tilley said.

Observers in Australia also observed signals emitted by objects D and E.

“I just received another report of a possible signal from Object B.”

A statement released by Chinese media described the purpose of the space plane as “providing technical support for the peaceful use of space,” but China kept the details secret, as did U.S. officials about its vehicle.

A day after the United States was forced to cancel a flight of its “spy” aircraft, the head of the US Space Force said it was “no coincidence” that a Chinese space plane was launched.

“It’s probably no coincidence that they’re trying to match us in timing and sequence,” said Gen. Chance Saltzman, director of space operations for the Space Force.

General Salzman, speaking at the Space Force Association’s Space Power Conference in Orlando, emphasized the advancement of these unmanned and reusable orbiting spy vehicles, which can provide greater operational security than spy satellites.

“The ability to put something into orbit, do something, and then take it home and see the results is powerful,” Saltzman said.

“It’s not surprising that the Chinese are very interested in our space plane,” he said. “We are very interested in theirs.”

However, while publicity photos of the US-based Boeing-designed X-37B secret spacecraft have existed for years, no photos of its Chinese rival have been leaked to the public.