Based on information provided by optical tracking specialists in the US and Europe, and from its own internal engineering analysis, Spaceflight believes the US Air Force may be using a dedicated suite of experimental instruments and diagnostic sensors on board the orbiting X-37B to maintain close watch on China's nascent space station. This is based on the fact that both are in almost exactly the same orbit and with the ability for the X-37B to manoeuvre and change orbit at will, to approach Tiangong-1 for diagnostic tracking and systems monitoring.
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