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However, the exact destination of the spacecraft remains unclear.
The X-37B's activities in space have long intrigued and sparked speculation within the space community, with enthusiasts eagerly tracking its whereabouts and sharing theories about its missions.
Resembling a miniature version of NASA's space shuttle with tinted windows, the reusable and fully autonomous X-37B has explored concepts like transmitting solar power from space for use on Earth and studying the effects of radiation on seeds used for growing food.
This mission, the seventh journey into space for the X-37B, promises to be even more intriguing than its predecessors. Notably, it marked the first time the spacecraft hitched a ride on SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy, one of the world's most powerful operational rockets.
Previously, the X-37B had been launched on SpaceX's Falcon 9 vehicle and the United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket, a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Boeing. The Falcon Heavy generates more thrust than both rockets combined.
The choice of the Falcon Heavy for this launch could suggest that the X-37B is destined for more distant orbits, perhaps even the Moon or Mars, hinted Paul Graziani, CEO of COMSPOC, a company specializing in tracking objects in space.
If it ventures much deeper into the cosmos than previous flights, it could become considerably more challenging for sky observers on Earth to determine the spacecraft's whereabouts. Graziani added that if the military wants to keep the X-37B untraceable, it could cloak itself under the glare of the sun or employ other means, such as frequent repositioning. The X-37B has previously demonstrated its capability to execute multiple maneuvers in space.
COMSPOC will attempt to locate the spacecraft if it enters geosynchronous orbit, situated about 36,000 kilometers from Earth and where most mass communication satellites operate. This orbit is where the company focuses its satellite tracking sensors, explained Graziani and Bob Hall, COMSPOC's Director of Operations Integration.
"I think it's one of the most interesting things that has happened in space in a long time, regardless of what it's going to do," Graziani remarked about the X-37B launch.
Technological Space Innovations
The X-37B enables the U.S. to conduct experiments aimed at understanding how to improve ongoing and future space operations and expand the limits of what's possible, according to a statement from General B. Chance Saltzman, Head of Space Operations.
Among the research conducted on this mission is a NASA experiment aimed at finding ways to sustain astronauts on future deep-space missions. Named Seeds-2, it "will expose plant seeds to the harsh radiation environment of long-duration space flights" and will build on research from previous X-37B missions.
Learning to grow food in the harsh soilless environment of outer space could be crucial for astronauts on prolonged missions to the Moon or beyond, where supplying fresh food is more challenging.
It remains unclear how long the spacecraft will remain in orbit this time, although historically, each X-37B flight has been longer than the previous one.
The X-37B's last autonomous space journey concluded in November 2022, logging nearly 909 consecutive days in space. During that sixth mission, the spacecraft carried experimental technology designed by the U.S. Navy to harness solar energy and transmit it back to Earth, as reported by CNN.
The X-37B has already spent over 3,700 days in space on other unmanned missions. When it returns to Earth, it will land on a runway, akin to an airplane descending from the sky.
Challenging China
This launch follows over two weeks of delays. SpaceX was set to launch on December 10. However, the launch was postponed twice due to weather conditions and issues with the ground launch platform before SpaceX abruptly delayed the mission indefinitely for "additional system checks."
During the downtime, China, considered the primary competitor in the modern space race by the U.S. government, orbited its own secretive spacecraft.
Little is known about the Chinese spacecraft. Some in the industry speculate it is a counterpart to the X-37B in shape and function, although no official photos of the vehicle have been released.
China’s state news agency Xinhua reported that the secretive spacecraft was launched aboard a Long March 2F rocket.
The agency's publication only added that during its time in space, the vehicle will test reusable space technology and conduct unspecified scientific experiments "for the peaceful use of space."
The duration of the Chinese spacecraft's orbit remains unclear.
SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy launch vehicle successfully placed the U.S. Space Force’s X-37B test platform into orbit, continuing its experimental and largely classified mission.
The Dec. 28 mission marked the X-37B’s seventh launch. Manufactured by Boeing, the spacecraft serves as a testing platform for new technologies for both the Defense Department and NASA. Its maiden flight was in 2010.
"This was a very important mission and our teams worked shoulder-to-shoulder to ensure a successful launch," stated Brig. Gen. Kristin Panzenhagen, commander of Space Launch Delta 45.
While most of the X-37B's mission details and payload remain classified, one of its experiments includes a NASA project called Seeds-2, examining different seeds' reaction to long-term exposure to space radiation. The Space Force announced in November that the mission would also test "future space domain awareness technologies."
"These tests are integral in ensuring safe, stable, and secure operations in space for all users of the domain," the service noted.
The X-37B's previous mission, OTV-6, concluded in November 2022. During that mission, the vehicle included a service module enabling it to carry more experiments than earlier iterations. These experiments included the Naval Research Laboratory's Photovoltaic Radio-frequency Antenna Module experiment, which utilized solar power to create radio-frequency microwave energy, along with two NASA projects similar to Seeds.
That mission also carried FalconSat-8, a small satellite developed by the Air Force Academy.
Thursday’s launch was the second to utilize a SpaceX rocket and the first to be lifted off by the company’s Falcon Heavy vehicle. The first five missions were carried by the United Launch Alliance's Altas V rocket, while the sixth flew on SpaceX's Falcon 9.
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