The U.S. military’s X-37B spacecraft has departed on another top-secret mission expected to last at least several years.
The spaceplane took off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at night aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, but was delayed for more than two weeks due to technical problems. As with previous missions, the reusable plane, which resembles a mini space shuttle, will carry sensitive experiments. This will be an unmanned mission.
The classified mission, conducted by the U.S. Space Force under the National Security Space Launch Program, will test new orbital regimes and space domain awareness technologies.
Significance of the X-37B launch
Notably, this launch marked the first time the X-37B was carried by the more powerful Falcon Heavy rocket, suggesting it may fly in a higher than normal low-Earth orbit. The spacecraft is designed for long-duration orbital flights to carry various payloads and technology experiments. It is also known for its ability to land on a runway autonomously, like an airplane, after completing its mission.
The duration of the X-37B’s current mission has not been disclosed, but it is expected to follow a pattern of continuous long-duration flights and could extend beyond June 2026. The previous mission lasted more than two years and set a record for the program.
These missions represent significant advances in reusable space technology and highlight the strategic importance of space in the areas of national security and scientific research.
X-37B launch at the same time as China’s Shenlong
Around the same time as the X-37B’s launch, China’s Shenlong spacecraft completed its third mission since 2020. Shenron is also considered to be a secret project, limited to delivery in low Earth orbit. The simultaneous implementation of these missions has been noted as a reflection of the growing space competition between the United States and China, with both countries showing strong interest in each other’s spaceplane technology.