The US military’s secretive X-37B robot spaceplane embarked on its seventh mission, riding atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket that could propel it to unprecedented altitudes.
The rocket lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on December 28, at 8:07 p.m. ET, carrying the uncrewed spacecraft. The launch was delayed by two weeks due to Technical hitches, with earlier attempts thwarted by adverse weather and unspecified issues. The launch was live-streamed on SpaceX’s website. The side boosters returned to Earth and landed safely.
Coinciding with China’s Shenlong, or “Divine Dragon,” on its third orbital mission since 2020, this launch added a new dimension to the intensifying US-Sino space rivalry. The X-37B mission, managed by the US Space Force, is a secretive part of the military’s space launch program. It’s been in orbit for more than ten years since its first flight in 2010, with this seventh mission following its longest journey yet, ending a year ago after two and a half years in space.
Objectives of the X-37B Mission
Details about the X-37B’s flight height remain undisclosed, but the mission aims to test novel orbital realms and futuristic space awareness technologies, as stated by the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office. Beyond classified experiments, the spaceplane also carries a NASA study on how radiation impacts plant seeds, vital for future sustenance during extended lunar and Martian missions.
The mission’s length isn’t revealed but seems to follow the pattern of getting longer. It might go on until June 2026 or even longer. These secretive space missions show how much the space race between countries is pushing technology forward.
China launches ‘Divine Dragon’
China’s Shenlong, launched on a Long March 2F rocket, holds less power than SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy, limiting its payload to low-Earth orbits. Space Force General B Chance Saltzman hinted at China’s competitive spirit, suggesting a synchronized launch to rival the X-37B.
X-37B
Manufactured by Boeing, the X-37B resembles NASA’s retired shuttles, yet scaled down to a quarter of their size, measuring 29 feet (9 meters) long. Operating autonomously, it eliminates the need for astronauts and boasts an independent landing system.
These spacecraft ascend vertically, akin to rockets, and land horizontally, mirroring planes. Their designated orbit ranges from 150 to 500 miles (240 to 800 kilometers) above Earth’s surface.