Space Force Reveals Secretive X-37B Space Plane's High-Ea...

The X-37B space plane, a secretive project of the Space Force, has been under the spotlight recently after a photo taken from it was published. The photo was taken during first-of-its-kind aerobraking maneuvers, which were designed to change the plane's orbit using minimal fuel. This strategy involved a series of passes using the drag of Earth's atmosphere. The X-37B is currently on its seventh mission. Its previous mission lasted about two-and-a-half years (or 908 days), marking its longest mission to date. The current mission includes operating in new orbital regimes and testing future space domain awareness technologies.

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X-37B Space Plane's Mission Overview

The X-37B is currently on its seventh mission. Its sixth mission, which concluded in November 2022, was its longest to date, lasting about two-and-a-half years (or 908 days). The Space Force has outlined mission goals that include operating in new orbital regimes and testing future space domain awareness technologies. Additionally, the mission involves an onboard NASA experiment that focuses on studying the effects of radiation exposure on plant seeds during long spaceflight missions.

The Aerobraking Maneuver

The recently published photo was taken during a unique aerobraking maneuver. This maneuver aims to change the plane's orbit using minimal fuel. The strategy involves the plane making a series of passes through Earth's atmosphere, utilizing atmospheric drag to alter its trajectory. Once this maneuver is complete, the X-37B will resume its other experiments before de-orbiting.