The Boeing X-37B, one of the world’s most advanced spacecraft, has returned to Earth after an unprecedented 908 days in orbit. The US Space Force finally released its first declassified photo taken from the spacecraft, providing a rare glimpse into its operations.
Launched atop a SpaceX Falcon rocket on December 28, 2023, the X-37B embarked on a mission that spanned over two years. During this time, it traveled over 1.2 billion miles in orbit and covered previously uncharted territory for military space exploration.
The spacecraft’s payload capacity and longer mission duration make it an ideal candidate for testing new orbital regimes and advancing space domain awareness technologies. In addition, NASA collaborated with the X-37B on experiments studying the effects of prolonged radiation on plant seeds in space.
The release of this first declassified photo marks a significant milestone in the ongoing ‘Space Race’ between nations. The initiative, which aims to build a permanent Moon base, has attracted multiple international partners, including China, Russia, and several other countries.
As the US Space Force continues to push the boundaries of military space exploration, the return of the X-37B underscores the growing importance of this field in modern warfare.
Source: https://supercarblondie.com/us-space-force-boeing-x-37b