The US Air Force’s X-37B space plane has released a photo taken from one of its onboard cameras, showing the Earth from a highly elliptical orbit in 2024. The image was posted to the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service and provides a glimpse into the experiments being conducted by the space plane.
The X-37B is designed to operate between a plane and a satellite, with a mission that began on December 28, 2023. Its previous mission ran for 908 days, making it the longest X-37B mission to date. The latest mission is conducting several new tests, including an aerobraking experiment that uses drag from atmospheric friction to adjust its orbit.
The space plane has been in service since 2010 and has conducted orbital tests for over a decade. The US military views the X-37B as an important tool for testing space-based capabilities. The latest photo highlights the high quality of the space plane’s cameras, providing a detailed look at the Earth from space.
While exact details on the space plane’s actions in orbit are still unclear, the released photo provides valuable insights into its experiments and operations.
Source: https://taskandpurpose.com/news/space-force-x-37b-photos-orbit