X 37b Space Plane

The vehicle is the first since the space shuttle with the ability to return experiments to earth for further inspection and analysis.

X 37b space plane. The spacecraft s last ride was on spacex s. Air force s unmanned x 37b space plane has flown four clandestine missions to date carrying secret payloads on long duration flights in earth orbit. The mysterious x 37b began its sixth mission on may 17 2020 when it was launched from space launch complex 41 at cape canaveral air force station war zone reported. The pentagon s highly secretive x 37b operates much like a mini space shuttle launching atop a conventional rocket.

An unmanned x 37b space plane landed at the kennedy space center in florida on sunday wrapping up a record 780 days in orbit the us air force said sunday. The mission broke the mysterious plane. It is boosted into space by a launch vehicle then re enters earth s atmosphere and lands as a spaceplane. The x 37 is operated by the united states space force for orbital spaceflight missions intended to demonstrate reusable space technologies.

The robotic vehicle resembles nasa s. The x 37b is one of the world s newest and most advanced re entry spacecraft designed to operate in low earth orbit 150 to 500 miles above the earth. The boeing x 37 also known as the orbital test vehicle otv is a reusable robotic spacecraft. The spaceplane s dimensions are known.

It s small about 29 feet long with a cargo bay not much bigger than a pickup truck s. Project officials have revealed that the x 37b s maneuvering engine runs on hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide and that it uses a different kind of thermal protection than nasa s space shuttle did. Air force s unpiloted x 37b space plane landed back on earth sunday oct.