The US Space Force has released a rare photo of its secretive X-37B space plane orbiting high above Africa, offering a glimpse into the vehicle’s activities. The image was taken onboard the X-37B while it conducted experiments in a highly elliptical orbit last year.
The X-37B is currently operating at an altitude of over 22,000 miles (35,000 km) above Earth, marking a significant departure from its previous low-Earth orbits. The space plane has been in orbit for more than a year and has recently executed a series of “aerobraking” maneuvers to safely change its orbit using minimal fuel.
The X-37B serves as a test platform for new space technologies, hosting payloads to test solar power beaming from space, thermal protection systems, and autonomous flight capabilities. The Space Force has described it as the “most advanced re-entry spacecraft that performs risk reduction, experimentation, and concept of operations development for reusable space vehicle technologies.”
The X-37B’s seventh mission includes operating the reusable spaceplane in new orbital regimes, experimenting with future space domain awareness technologies, and investigating the radiation effects on materials provided by NASA. The exact details of the space plane’s activities remain scarce, but the released photo provides a rare opportunity to observe the X-37B in its current configuration.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-space-force-reveals-1st-171146999.html