The secretive missions of the US military’s X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle are once again shrouded in mystery as SpaceX prepares to launch the uncrewed space plane into orbit on Sunday night. The 29-foot-long X-37B, built by Boeing, is set to embark on its seventh mission, carrying classified payloads and conducting operations 150 to 500 miles above the Earth’s surface.
The mission, scheduled to lift off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, is raising questions about the nature of the payloads and the objectives of the space plane’s secretive activities in orbit. The X-37B’s previous flight lasted a record-setting 908 days before returning to Earth in November 2022.
According to Don Platt, director of the Florida Institute of Technology’s Spaceport Graduate Center in Titusville, the X-37B serves as a test platform for new technology, allowing the military to collect data on the performance of sensors and other cutting-edge experiments in the space environment. The ability to bring the space plane back to Earth for further analysis provides a significant advantage over traditional satellite missions, where data collection is limited by the satellite’s deployment in orbit.
The X-37B’s extended stay in orbit allows for the accumulation of a substantial database on the performance of advanced technology in the space environment. This, according to Platt, underscores the importance of the space plane as a testing ground for new capabilities without the need for human presence.
Details on the launch include a 10-minute launch window, the location of Pad 39A, and booster landings at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Live coverage will be available 90 minutes prior to liftoff at floridatoday.com/space. The mission is part of the evolving national security space launch capabilities, enhancing the response to national security needs, said Brig. Gen. Kristin Panzenhagen.
The X-37B’s previous missions have carried a range of experiments, including studying radiation effects, testing new orbital regimes, and investigating the impact of harsh radiation on plant seeds. The space plane’s ability to return to Earth with valuable data and experiments sets it apart from traditional satellite missions.
The role of the X-37B as a test platform for new technology is reminiscent of the early days of the space shuttle program, where the military also conducted top-secret shuttle missions. However, the autonomous capabilities of the X-37B allow for an extended stay in orbit and an increased capacity to collect data from sensitive technology.
As the X-37B prepares for its seventh mission, the US Space Force has declined a request for further comment on the specifics of the operation. With the launch approaching, the military’s secretive space plane continues to captivate curiosity about its classified payloads and its long-duration missions in orbit. For the latest launch schedule updates at the Cape, visit floridatoday.com/launchschedule.