The US Space Force is set to launch the eighth mission of its X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV-8) on August 21 from Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The mission marks a significant milestone in the program’s efforts to develop critical space technologies.
The X-37B program has been operational since April 2010 and has accrued over 4,200 days of flight time. Past missions have demonstrated the spacecraft’s ability to change its orbital trajectory using advanced aerobraking maneuvers, tested space domain awareness technologies, and successfully transmitted solar energy to the ground.
The X-37B is a versatile spacecraft designed to conduct a range of tests and experiments that accelerate the development of next-generation reusable space capabilities. Its mission-focused innovation has redefined the possibilities in space exploration.
Source: https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4274438/us-space-force-prepares-x-37b-mission-8-for-launch