9.03.2025
US military's mini space shuttle returns to Earth after orbiting for 434 days on a secret mission
The U.S. military's classified mini space shuttle has returned to Earth after circling the world for 434 days
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The U.S. military's classified mini space shuttlereturned to Earth on Friday after circling the world for 434 days.
The space plane blasted into orbit from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in December 2023 on a secret mission. Launched by SpaceX, the X-37B vehiclecarried no people, just military experiments.
Its predawn touchdown at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California was not announced until hours after the fact. Photos showed the white-and-black space plane parked on the runway in darkness.
It’s the seventh flight of one of these test vehicles. Space Force officials said the mission successfully demonstrated the ability to change orbits by using atmospheric drag to slow down, saving fuel.
It's "an exciting new chapter in the X-37B program," program director Lt. Col. Blaine Stewart said in a statement.
First launched in 2010, the Boeing-made, reusable space planes have spent as long as 908 days in space at a time. They're 29 feet (9 meters) long with a wingspan of almost 15 feet (4.5 meters).
Quelle: abc News
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U.S. military spaceplane completes 7th mission, including advanced orbital maneuvers
WASHINGTON — The secretive X-37B military spaceplane touched down at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on March 7, concluding its seventh mission after spending more than 434 days in orbit, the U.S. Space Force announced.
Designated Orbital Test Vehicle-7 (OTV-7), the autonomous spacecraft launched on December 28, 2023, marking several firsts for the program – including its first flight aboard SpaceX’s Falcon Heavyrocket and operations in a highly elliptical Earth orbit (HEO).
“Mission 7 broke new ground by showcasing the X-37B’s ability to flexibly accomplish its test and experimentation objectives across orbital regimes,” Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman said in a statement following the landing.
The Space Force considers the mission particularly significant for its demonstration of aerobraking maneuvers — a technique that uses atmospheric drag during multiple orbital passes to change the spacecraft’s trajectory while conserving fuel. This capability provides tactical advantages that align with the Space Force’s growing focus on space domain awareness and orbital agility.
The aerobraking capability essentially gives the X-37B a stealth mode for orbital changes without visible propulsion signatures that might be detected by adversaries.
The mission also incorporated NASA experiments and conducted space domain awareness tests designed to collect data on orbital maneuvering. These tests are expected to inform the development of next-generation space capabilities and enhance the Space Force’s understanding of how various sensors and tracking systems perform when monitoring spacecraft across different orbital regimes.
The X-37B program, managed jointly by the Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office and the United States Space Force with Boeing providing the spacecraft and mission support, has served as a platform for both classified military tests and civilian space experiments. While many mission details remain confidential, the Space Force has gradually shared more information about the program’s role in developing new concepts for space operations.
Quelle: SN
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X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle concludes seventh successful mission
VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) -- The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle-7 (OTV-7), the U.S. Space Force’s dynamic unmanned spaceplane, successfully deorbited and landed at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, March 7, 2025 at 02:22 a.m. EST.
The U.S. Space Force landed the X-37B at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, to exercise its rapid ability to launch and recover its systems across multiple sites. X-37B’s Mission 7 was the first launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy Rocket to a Highly Elliptical Orbit. While on orbit, Mission 7 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.
The successful completion of the novel aerobraking maneuver demonstrated the agile and flexible capabilities the X-37B provides the United States Space Force. Drawing on decades of lessons learned from previous space missions, this technique involves the use of atmospheric drag over the course of multiple passes to change orbits while expending minimal fuel.
“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 Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman.
While in orbit, Mission 7 tested space domain awareness technology experiments that aim to improve the United States Space Force’s knowledge of the space environment. These technologies are critical to the U.S. Space Force’s ability to conduct space operations in an increasingly congested and contested environment of space, to the benefit of all users of the domain. After aerobraking to a Low Earth Orbit and completing its test and experimentation objectives, Mission 7 successfully performed its deorbit and landing procedures.
Commenting on Mission 7’s achievements, the X-37B Program Director, Lt. Col. Blaine Stewart stated, “Mission 7’s operation in a new orbital regime, its novel aerobraking maneuver, and its testing of space domain awareness experiments have written an exciting new chapter in the X-37B program. Considered together, they mark a significant milestone in the ongoing development of the U.S. Space Force’s dynamic mission capability.”
The seventh mission remained on-orbit for over 434 days.
Quelle: United States Space Force