US Space Force releases first image of X-37B after its seventh mission
The US Space Force has revealed the first images of its secretive X-37B space plane, which has been in orbit for more than a year.
With the release of this photo, the X-37B has achieved another milestone, becoming the first public image of the space plane in orbit. While the photo provides little information about the vehicle or its current experiments, it shows Earth far in the background, emphasizing the vehicle's high altitude on its seventh mission.
As the X-37B prepared for its current mission, the U.S. Space Force revealed that the flight would involve operating the reusable spaceplane in new orbital regimes, testing future space domain awareness technologies, and studying the radiation effects on materials provided by NASA.
'An X-37B onboard camera, used to ensure the health and safety of the vehicle, captures an image of Earth while conducting experiments in HEO in 2024.The X-37B executed a series of first-of-kind maneuvers, called aerobraking, to safely change its orbit using minimal fuel,' the Space Force wrote on X.
Previous X-37B missions took place in low Earth orbit, but as this photo shows, the spaceplane is now operating much farther from Earth. SpaceX's Falcon Heavy is capable of launching payloads into geosynchronous orbit, which is over 22,000 miles (35,000 km) above the planet, Space reported.
Although the U.S. Space Force has been secretive about the X-37B's activities during its long missions, it is known to serve as a test platform for new space technologies. The spaceplane has hosted payloads to test solar power beaming from space, thermal protection systems, and autonomous flight capabilities. According to the Space Force, the X-37B is the "most advanced re-entry spacecraft," focused on risk reduction, experimentation, and developing operational concepts for reusable space vehicle technologies.
The X-37B set a record by flying for 908 days during its sixth mission, which ended with a landing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on November 12, 2022. However, the exact return date for the spaceplane and the conclusion of its seventh mission remains unknown.
One of the U.S.'s main space rivals, China, is testing its own reusable spaceplane, which launched on its third mission just two weeks before the X-37B's most recent flight.
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp (CASC) also completed key engine tests on its reusable rocket engine. The 130-ton reusable liquid oxygen kerosene engine, developed by CASC's Sixth Academy, is designed to power CASC's reusable rockets, including the Long March 10.
CASC has reportedly completed 15 repeated tests and 30 ignition starts on its new engine, with a total test duration of over 3,900 seconds. According to Chinese authorities, these 15 repeated tests have broken China's previous record for liquid rocket main engine testing.
The research team behind the tests asserted that the 130-ton reusable liquid oxygen kerosene engine is highly reliable and offers strong expandability. To ensure its efficiency as a reusable engine, Chinese scientists focused on mastering multiple ignitions, large-range thrust adjustments, and other advanced technologies.
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