2023-12-29 09:41:42
Updated Friday, December 29, 2023 – 08:41
The spacecraft carries on board a NASA experiment to measure the effects of radiation on materials.
The X-37B.AP space plane
He avin espacial X-37B of the armed forces of USA took off this Thursday on another secret mission that is expected to last at least a couple of years. As in previous missions, the reusable plane—similar to a mini space shuttle—carries secret experiments and has no crew.
The aerospace ship took off at night aboard the rocket Falcon Heavy of SpaceX from the NASA Kennedy Space Centermore than two weeks late due to technical issues.
Its about seventh flight of an X-37B, which has accumulated more than 10 years in orbit since its debut in 2010. The most recent flight – the longest to date – spanned two and a half years before concluding on a landing strip at the Kennedy Center a year ago.
Space Force officials have declined to say how long the orbital test vehicle’s current journey will last or what it has on board, beyond a NASA experiment to measure the effects of radiation on materials.
Built by Boeing, the X-37B resembles NASA’s shuttles, which have since ceased service. But at 9 meters long, the orbital test vehicle is only a quarter the size of the shuttles. Astronauts are not required since the X-37B has an autonomous landing system.
It takes off vertically like rockets, but lands horizontally like airplanes, and is designed to orbit the planet at an altitude ranging between 240 and 800 kilometers (150 and 500 miles). There is dos X-37B in an old Kennedy Center shuttle hangar.
#military #spaceplane #takes #secret #mission #expected #years