US Space Force’s X-37B Spaceplane Returns After 434-Day Secret Mission
The U.S. Space Force’s X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV-7) has returned to Earth after a 434-day classified mission, the U.S. Space Force said on Friday.
According to the U.S. Space Force, the uncrewed spaceplane completed its seventh mission and landed at California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base at 2:22 a.m. ET (11:22 p.m. local time) on Friday. The spacecraft was launched on December 28, 2023, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.
While the exact details of the mission remain largely classified, U.S. Space Force in a news release, said X-37B had “accomplished a range of test and experimentation objectives intended to demonstrate the X-37B’s robust maneuver capability while helping characterize the space domain through the testing of space domain awareness technology experiments” while in orbit.
One of the most notable aspects of the mission was its successful execution of an aerobraking maneuver, allowing the vehicle to alter its orbit and slow down by using atmospheric drag. This technique conserves fuel and represents a significant advancement in orbital maneuvering.
Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman praised the maneuver, stating that it “underscores the U.S. Space Force’s commitment to pushing the bounds of novel space operations in a safe and responsible manner.”
Lt. Col. Blaine Stewart, the X-37B program director, described the mission as an “exciting new chapter” in the program, emphasizing the spacecraft’s ability to perform complex maneuvers and gather valuable data on space domain awareness.
The Space Force remains tight-lipped on specific experiments conducted, but officials indicated that the spacecraft’s activities contributed to understanding an “increasingly congested and contested environment” in space. Analysts suggest this could involve scanning for space debris, monitoring satellite activity, or testing new surveillance technologies.
The X-37B program, originally developed by NASA, conducted its first flight in 2010. With each mission, the spacecraft has demonstrated new capabilities, including testing energy beaming technology and thermal protection systems.
Despite its 434-day duration, the latest mission was one of the shortest for the X-37B, with previous flights lasting up to 908 days. Its next mission is yet to be announced.
