The United States military has released the first image from its secret space plane, X-37B. Dubbed Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV), it is the code name for the spacecraft that launched into orbit in 2023 under Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The X-37B has been on six previous trips to space, with its most recent mission, OTV-7, launched in December 2023.
The US Space Force has been secretive about the X-37B’s activities, but the released image shows part of the spacecraft while it is in orbit around the Earth. The image was captured by an onboard camera and shows the Earth glowing brightly in space. According to the US Space Force, the X-37B executed a series of aerobraking manoeuvres to safely change its orbit using minimal fuel.
The X-37B has been conducting experiments at high elliptical orbits, following an elliptical or oval shape that takes it 1,000 kilometers from Earth and over 35,700 kilometers away. The spacecraft is unmanned during its time in orbit, but can be launched at speeds humans couldn’t withstand.
This release marks a significant moment for the US Space Force, as it sheds light on its secret space program. The image has sparked reactions on social media, with many expressing their surprise and curiosity about the existence of such a plane.
Source: https://www.ladbible.com/news/health/usa-secret-space-plane-first-image-released-431655-20250225