Latest news with #X-37BOrbitalTestVehicle-7
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Mysterious U.S. spaceplane returns to Earth, and Space Force snaps photos
The secretive exploits of the X-37B spaceplane continue. After spending 434 days in space, the crewless Space Force craft returned to Earth on March 7, landing at California's Vandenberg Space Force Base in the middle of the night. The agency snapped pictures of its return, including the image of a hazmat suit-clad crew attending to the outer space craft. "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, on Mar. 7, 2025 at 02:22 a.m. EST," the U.S. Space Force posted on X. SEE ALSO: Aliens haven't contacted us. Scientists found a compelling reason why. This was the seventh mission of the X-37B, which orbits 150 to 500 miles above Earth to explore reusable space vehicle technologies and conduct long-term space experiments. The plane was originally built by Boeing for NASA, but the project transferred to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, in 2004. At nearly 30 feet long, it's one-fourth the size of NASA's retired Space Shuttle. Technicians standing near the recently landed X-37B spaceplane. Credit: U.S. Space Force The slightly charred X-37B spaceplane after landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base. Credit: U.S. Space Force The spaceplane's most recent national security-related mission launched in December 2023, and it accomplished a new feat. The Space Force recently revealed on X that the spaceplane "executed a series of first-of-kind maneuvers, called aerobraking, to safely change its orbit using minimal fuel." "Aerobraking" involves using close passes by Earth's atmosphere to produce drag, ultimately allowing it to switch orbits without burning too much of its finite fuel. When not aerobraking, it appears the spaceplane kept busy with reconnaissance-related activity. "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 Space Force said in a statement. "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." Spaceplanes, too, must contend with the amassing spacecraft and space junk in Earth's orbit.
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.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
U.S. spaceplane deorbits after secret mission and lands in California
An unmanned spaceplane sent into Earth's orbit in late 2023 returned on Friday, landing at California's Vandenberg Space Force Base overnight, the U.S. Space Force said on Friday. The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle-7 was launched into space by SpaceX's Falcon Heavy for a classified, long-duration military mission for the U.S. Space Force on Dec. 29, 2023, CBS News previously reported. It was in high Earth orbit, or about 20,000 miles above the planet's surface, for 434 days. The test vehicle had no crew. The U.S. Space Force said in a news release that the craft 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 those objectives included testing a new process called aerobraking, which saw the craft safely change orbit while using minimal fuel, the Space Force said on social media last month. Another set of experiments tested "space domain awareness technology," which helped improve the Space Force's knowledge of the space environment, according to the news release. With space an "increasingly congested and contested environment," knowledge of surrounding environments is "to the benefit of all users," the Space Force said. The craft landed successfully at Vandenberg Space Force Base at 2:22 a.m. ET, or 11:22 p.m. local time. The landing tested the craft's ability to recover across multiple sites, the Space Force said. Photos shared online show the vehicle on the ground at the base, with Space Force members standing nearby. The base has a three-mile long runway specifically built for B-37 craft, CBS News previously reported. X-37B program director Lt. Col. Blaine Stewart said the craft's successful operations "have written an exciting new chapter" and mark a "significant milestone in the ongoing development of the U.S. Space Force's dynamic mission capability." The Space Force has access to two X-37B craft. The crafts, built by Boeing, are designed to help test avionics and advanced sensors, evaluate reusable spacecraft components and provide a platform for experiments that can be analyzed on Earth. The space planes feature delta wings, heat shield tiles and a compat payload bay, and are powered by an extendable solar array that allows for extremely long flights. Ex-Army recruiter flees state with 17-year-old girlfriend after estranged wife's murder Why Trump wants to eliminate the Education Department Trump threatens to impose sanctions on Russia
CBS News
07-03-2025
- Science
- CBS News
U.S. spaceplane deorbits after classified mission and lands in California
An unmanned spaceplane sent into Earth's orbit in late 2023 returned on Friday, landing at California's Vandenberg Space Force Base overnight, the U.S. Space Force said on Friday. The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle-7 was launched into space by SpaceX's Falcon Heavy for a classified, long-duration military mission for the U.S. Space Force on Dec. 29, 2023, CBS News previously reported. It was in high Earth orbit, or about 20,000 miles above the planet's surface, for 434 days. The test vehicle had no crew. The U.S. Space Force said in a news release that the craft 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 those objectives included testing a new process called aerobraking, which saw the craft safely change orbit while using minimal fuel, the Space Force said on social media last month. 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 X-37B executed a series of first-of-kind maneuvers, called aerobraking, to safely change its orbit using minimal fuel. — United States Space Force (@SpaceForceDoD) February 21, 2025 Another set of experiments tested "space domain awareness technology," which helped improve the Space Force's knowledge of the space environment, according to the news release. With space an "increasingly congested and contested environment," knowledge of surrounding environments is "to the benefit of all users," the Space Force said. The craft landed successfully at Vandenberg Space Force Base at 2:22 a.m. ET, or 11:22 p.m. local time. The landing tested the craft's ability to recover across multiple sites, the Space Force said. Photos shared online show the vehicle on the ground at the base, with Space Force members standing nearby. The base has a three-mile long runway specifically built for B-37 craft, CBS News previously reported. 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, on Mar. 7, 2025 at 02:22 a.m. EST. #X37B #USSF — United States Space Force (@SpaceForceDoD) March 7, 2025 X-37B program director Lt. Col. Blaine Stewart said the craft's successful operations "have written an exciting new chapter" and mark a "significant milestone in the ongoing development of the U.S. Space Force's dynamic mission capability." The Space Force has access to two X-37B craft. The crafts, built by Boeing, are designed to help test avionics and advanced sensors, evaluate reusable spacecraft components and provide a platform for experiments that can be analyzed on Earth. The space planes feature delta wings, heat shield tiles and a compat payload bay, and are powered by an extendable solar array that allows for extremely long flights.
