A mysterious space shuttle has landed in California after flying a classified mission for the last 434 days in space. Known as the X-37B Spaceplane, the spacecraft, managed by the U.S. Space Force, focused on testing and experimentation across different orbital regimes, contributing to advancements in space operations. The secretive nature of the mission has led to widespread curiosity regarding its specific activities during its time in space.
Boeing, which created the spacecraft, shared a brief congratulatory message on X after it landed at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 2:22 am yesterday: “Congratulations to our partners at Space Force on another successful mission, this time showcasing the X-37B’s ability to operate in multiple orbital regimes. Team Boeing is honored to be part of this paradigm-changing aerospace program.”
This was the 7th successful mission of the aerospace program that has few public details. With completion of this seventh mission, the reusable spaceplane has now flown over 1.4 billion nautical miles and spent 4,208 days in space — where the uncrewed spacecraft conducted experiments before returning them to Earth for evaluation.
“Mission 7 broke new ground by showcasing the X-37B’s ability to flexibly accomplish its test and experimentation objectives across orbital regimes. The successful execution of the aerobraking maneuver underscores the U.S. Space Force’s commitment to pushing the bounds of novel space operations in a safe and responsible manner,” said U.S. Space Force General Chance Saltzman who is Chief of Space Operations there.
Michelle Parker, Boeing vice president of Space Mission Systems said in a written statement, “The X-37B’s achievements are a testament to our team’s dedication and innovation. Each mission is an opportunity to improve and augment the platform, ensuring it remains at the forefront of space technology. The X-37’s accomplishments reinforce the significance of our work.”
While those leaders shared their remarks of satisfaction, they’ve said little else.
The X-37B unmanned plane looks like a miniature space shuttle; it is 29 feet long and has a wing span of about 15 feet; it is roughly a quarter the size of the original space shuttle. No details were shared of when/where the craft entered space nor were any details of what it did above the Earth made public. Details of how it is flown and the technology on-board is classified.
The US Air Force has two X-37B craft in its fleet, but the program cost is kept secret.
The X-37B made its first flight in April 2010 and returned back to Earth after eight months of travel. The X-37B typically lands at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California although the Florida Space Coast has also been used for prior missions.
