A US military mini shuttle, launched by SpaceX, has blasted off on a secret mission to conduct classified experiments in space. The X-37B space plane, which is 29 feet long with a wingspan of almost 15 feet, took off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, without any crew members on board.
The mission aims to test laser communications and safe navigation without GPS, according to the US Space Force. The duration of the mini shuttle’s stay in space remains unknown, but previous X-37B missions have lasted anywhere from months to over a year before returning to Earth.
The reusable space planes were first launched in 2010 and are designed to be Boeing-made with advanced technology. This is the eighth such flight for the test vehicles, highlighting their importance in space exploration and experimentation.
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Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/us-military-mini-shuttle-launches-secret-mission-124869782