The US Space Force has released an image of the X-37B spaceplane, taken by a camera onboard the robotic craft during one of its elliptical orbits. The plane, launched in December 2023 and still on mission, conducted “aerobraking” maneuvers to safely change its orbit using minimal fuel.
The X-37B, built by Boeing for NASA, is currently testing reusable space vehicle technologies and conducting long-term space experiments 150-500 miles above Earth. The Space Force’s commitment to innovation in space is evident in this maneuver, which demonstrates the ability to switch orbits without burning too much fuel.
The spaceplane’s mission, still ongoing, will eventually bring it back down through the atmosphere and land on a runway. The US military has released images of this process before, aiming to promote the X-37B’s successes while keeping its outer space exploits under wraps.
Source: https://mashable.com/article/secretive-x-37b-spaceplane-spacecraft-captures-view-of-earth