The Boeing X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle landed at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California after spending 434 days in orbit. It returned to Earth on March 7.
The U.S. Space Force announced that the X-37B spacecraft returned to Earth on March 7 after a 434-day mission in orbit. It landed at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
Considered a highly secretive aircraft, the X-37B has completed 7 missions over the past 15 years. It has been in orbit for more than 4,000 days in total.
Recently, it piqued the curiosity of space enthusiasts by sharing images from its most recent mission. The image shared on the U.S. Space Force’s X profile shows Earth as seen from the spacecraft in space.
“A camera onboard the X-37B, used to ensure the health and safety of the vehicle, captured an image of Earth while conducting experiments in a Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO) in 2024,” the Twitter post read.
The spacecraft conducted a series of space domain awareness technology tests, demonstrating its maneuverability and assistance in space monitoring.
“The successful execution of the aerobraking maneuver highlights the U.S. Space Force’s commitment to expanding the boundaries of space operations safely and responsibly,” said General Chance Saltzman.
+See more images from the X-37B’s view in Earth orbit
Photos: Wikimedia Commons. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
