The US Space Force has released a rare photo of its secretive X-37B space plane, revealing details about the vehicle’s orbit and experiments being conducted. The image, taken onboard the X-37B itself, shows one solar panel and an open payload bay while it orbits high above Africa.
Launched on December 28, 2023, atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, the X-37B has been in orbit for over a year, marking its seventh mission. This photo marks only the second public glimpse of the space plane in orbit, following a brief shot seen during its launch livestream.
The US Space Force revealed that this flight includes operating the reusable spaceplane in new orbital regimes, experimenting with future space domain awareness technologies, and investigating radiation effects on materials provided by NASA. The X-37B recently made headlines for testing a new aerobraking maneuver to change orbit more efficiently.
This photo, taken while conducting experiments in 2024, shows the vehicle’s high elliptical orbit over 22,000 miles above Earth. The X-37B serves as a test platform for new space technologies, hosting payloads to test solar power beaming, thermal protection systems, and autonomous flight capabilities.
China is also testing its own reusable space plane, launched on its third mission just two weeks before the X-37B’s latest launch. When the X-37B returns to Earth, details about its experiments will likely become clearer, providing insight into its ongoing technological development.
Source: https://www.space.com/space-force-x-37b-1st-photo-from-orbit-earth