Latest news with #BlaineStewart
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Mysterious Spacecraft Lands at Space Force Base
The Space Force's top-secret X-37B spaceplane has landed after spending well over a year orbiting the Earth. The enigmatic space plane launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in December 2023. What exactly it did while circling the planet without a crew on board for the next 434 days, its seventh flight to date, remains mostly a mystery. In a vaguely-worded statement, the Space Force revealed that "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." Last month, the Space Force published a photo showing the side of the spacecraft with a distant Earth looming in the background, demonstrating its highly elliptical orbit. In October, the military branch announced X-37B would be performing a series of "aerobraking" maneuvers to slow itself down while clipping through the upper reaches of the atmosphere. Apart from saving fuel, the Space Force said it also managed to use the technique to descend to a low-Earth orbit. Put simply, the space plane appears to have successfully "belly flopped" through the upper reaches of the atmosphere to slow itself down. "The successful execution of the aerobraking maneuver underscores the US Space Force's commitment to pushing the bounds of novel space operations in a safe and responsible manner," said chief of space operations Chance Saltzman in a statement. X-37B program director Blaine Stewart called the conclusion of the plane's latest flight an "exciting new chapter in the X-37B program." "Considered together, they mark a significant milestone in the ongoing development of the US Space Force's dynamic mission capability," he added. According to the military branch, the "space domain awareness technology experiments" the plane conducted during its most recent flight were meant to address the issue of an "increasingly congested and contested environment of space." In other words, it's possible the plane was scanning the space around it for errant pieces of space junk and other objects to avoid a collision. Apart from slowing itself down using the Earth's atmosphere, the X-37B has previously tested beaming solar power from space and thermal protection systems, as reported last month. While 434 days is a considerable amount of time, the X-37B spent more than twice that during its sixth flight between May 2020 and November 2022. More on the space plane: Space Force Releases Photo of Earth Taken by Experimental Space Plane
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Space Force's mysterious X-37B plane returns to Earth after 434 days in orbit
The United States Space Force's secretive X-37B space plane touched down to earth on Friday after spending 434 days in orbit conducting mysterious tests. The unmanned Boeing-made aircraft landed at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 2:22 a.m. EST having "broke new ground" by completing a range of test and experimentation objectives, the USSF said in a statement. The space plane was launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida by SpaceX's Falcon Heavy Rocket in 2023 in what was its seventh mission. The aircraft is solar-powered, reusable and operated remotely. noted that most of its payloads remain classified. Air Force's Mysterious X-37b Space Plane Returns To Earth After Record-breaking 780 Days In Orbit Space Force said the tests while in a highly elliptical orbit demonstrated the aircraft's "robust maneuver capability." The technique involves using the drag caused by the Earth's atmosphere to change its orbit more efficiently while expending minimal fuel, Sopace Force said. Read On The Fox News App 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, the agency said. After aerobraking to a low earth orbit and completing its test and experimentation objectives, Mission 7 successfully performed its deorbit and landing procedures. Secretive Us Space Force Plane Shares Rare Photo Of Earth From Orbit "Mission 7 broke new ground by showcasing the X-37B's ability to flexibly accomplish its test and experimentation objectives across orbital regimes." Gen. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations at Space Force, said in a statement. "The successful execution of the aerobraking maneuver underscores Space Force's commitment to pushing the bounds of novel space operations in a safe and responsible manner." Space Force shared several images of the aircraft after it touched down. In one image, a group of people in hazmat-like suits approach the secretive plane. Lt. Col. Blaine Stewart, the X-37B program director, said that the mission marked a significant milestone in the ongoing development of the agency's dynamic mission capability. "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," Steward said. Last month, Space Force shared a rare image of Earth while conducting article source: Space Force's mysterious X-37B plane returns to Earth after 434 days in orbit
Fox News
08-03-2025
- Science
- Fox News
Space Force's mysterious X-37B plane returns to Earth after 434 days in orbit
The United States Space Force's secretive X-37B space plane touched down to earth on Friday after spending 434 days in orbit conducting mysterious tests. The unmanned Boeing-made aircraft landed at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 2:22 a.m. EST having "broke new ground" by completing a range of test and experimentation objectives, the USSF said in a statement. The space plane was launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida by SpaceX's Falcon Heavy Rocket in 2023 in what was its seventh mission. The aircraft is solar-powered, reusable and operated remotely. noted that most of its payloads remain classified. Space Force said the tests while in a highly elliptical orbit demonstrated the aircraft's "robust maneuver capability." The technique involves using the drag caused by the Earth's atmosphere to change its orbit more efficiently while expending minimal fuel, Sopace Force said. 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, the agency said. After aerobraking to a low earth orbit and completing its test and experimentation objectives, Mission 7 successfully performed its deorbit and landing procedures. "Mission 7 broke new ground by showcasing the X-37B's ability to flexibly accomplish its test and experimentation objectives across orbital regimes." Gen. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations at Space Force, said in a statement. "The successful execution of the aerobraking maneuver underscores Space Force's commitment to pushing the bounds of novel space operations in a safe and responsible manner." Space Force shared several images of the aircraft after it touched down. In one image, a group of people in hazmat-like suits approach the secretive plane. Lt. Col. Blaine Stewart, the X-37B program director, said that the mission marked a significant milestone in the ongoing development of the agency's dynamic mission capability. "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," Steward said. Last month, Space Force shared a rare image of Earth while conducting experiments.
The Independent
08-03-2025
- Science
- The Independent
US military's classified space shuttle returns to Earth after secret mission
The U.S. military's mini space shuttle has returned to Earth after circling the world on another secretive mission that lasted 434 days. The space plane blasted into orbit from Nasa 's Kennedy Space Center in December 2023, launched by SpaceX 's Falcon Heavy rocket. The X-37B vehicle carried no people, just classified military experiments. Space Force officials would not say what's on board other than a Nasa experiment to gauge the effects of radiation on materials. Its predawn touchdown on Friday 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 marked the seventh flight of an X-37B text vehicle, which has logged more than 10 years in orbit since its debut in 2010. Space Force officials said the mission successfully demonstrated the ability to change orbits by using atmospheric drag to slow down, saving fuel. '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," program director Lt. Col. Blaine Stewart said in a statement. 'Considered together, they mark a significant milestone in the ongoing development of the U.S. Space Force's dynamic mission capability.' First launched in 2010, the Boeing -made, reusable space planes have spent as long as 908 days in space at a time. The X-37B resembles NASA's retired space shuttles but they're just one-fourth the size at 29 feet (9 meters) long with a wingspan of almost 15 feet (4.5 meters). They take off vertically like rockets but land horizontally like planes, and are designed to orbit between 150 miles and 500 miles (240 kilometers and 800 kilometers) high. The X-37B also has an autonomous landing system requiring no astronauts.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Secretive US Space Force X-37B space plane 'breaks new ground' as it returns to Earth after 434 days in orbit (photos)
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The U.S. Space Force's robotic space plane X-37B returned to Earth has returned to Earth after spending more than 434 days in orbit on a classified mission. This was the seventh mission for the X-37B space plane, officially designated X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle-7 (OTV-7), which landed at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, today (March 7). Touchdown occurred at 2:22 a.m. EST (0722 GMT). During the mission, the Boeing-built X-37B performed a novel "aerobraking maneuver" that demonstrated its robust maneuver capability. In the aerobraking maneuver, X-37B used the drag caused by Earth's atmosphere to change its orbit more efficiently. "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 Chance Saltzman said in a statement from Space Force. "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." Related: Space Force's secretive X-37B space plane: 10 surprising facts It wasn't just the flexibility of X-37B in the air that was under scrutiny during this mission. This was the first time that the space plane had launched atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket to a highly elliptical (flattened) orbit. From there, the plane conducted what Space Force describes as "space domain awareness technology experiments that aim to improve the United States Space Force's knowledge of the space environment." SpaceX launched the X-37B OTV-7 mission on Dec. 28, 2023. The aerobraking maneuver was used to take X-37B from the highly elliptical orbit to a low Earth orbit while conserving fuel. After conducting further experiments, the plane deorbited and returned to Earth. Related Stories: — Space Force's mysterious X-37B begins 'aerobraking' to lower orbit. Here's how it works (video) — Space Force's secretive X-37B space plane soars past 1 year in orbit — SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launches mysterious X-37B space plane for US Space Force after delays "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," X-37B Program Director Blaine Stewart said. "Considered together, they mark a significant milestone in the ongoing development of the U.S. Space Force's dynamic mission capability." Despite it's long 434-day mission, the X-37B's OTV-7 flight wasn't the longest flight for the robotic space plane. That record was set during the OTV-6 mission, which spent 908 days in orbit between May 2020 and November 2022. In fact, every X-37B flight since 2011 has spent a longer time in space than OTV-7, with only the first flight — the 224-day OTV-1 mission — spending less time in orbit. The U.S. Space Force currently has two X-37B space planes to fly those autonomous space missions.
