X-37B: Space Force publishes first photo of the US space glider in space
For years, the X-37B space glider has been on largely secret missions in space. Now, for the first time, there is a photo that was taken during a flight.
More than a year after the start of its seventh mission, the US Space Force has for the first time published a photo taken from space by Boeing's unmanned and reusable X-37B space glider. The image shows the entire globe from an apparently quite large distance as well as part of the spacecraft itself. The image was taken from a highly elliptical orbit (HEO) following tests with the so-called "aerobraking" maneuvers. This was intended to change the vehicle's orbit with minimal fuel consumption.
Secret space programs
The current mission began shortly before the turn of the year from 2023 to 2024, meaning it will now last around 390 days. Once again, those responsible wanted to "validate new technologies, promote innovation and push the boundaries of space exploration and utilization". Once again, however, they were not more specific. Instead, they announced in the autumn that the spacecraft would use the resistance of the Earth's atmosphere during "aerobraking" to change its orbit and consume as little fuel as possible. In doing so, the spacecraft would also separate from its service module, a payload mounted on the tail.
Even though the secrecy surrounding the spacecraft's flights has recently been reduced somewhat, not much is known about them. The flights are known above all for their unusually long duration. An X-37B was launched for the first time at the beginning of December 2010, and this mission alone lasted over 220 days. A few months later, the second spacecraft built was launched and orbited the Earth for 468 days. Further missions followed, each lasting well over 600 days. The sixth flight even lasted 908 days. The space probe was launched on its current flight with a Falcon 9 rocket from the US space company SpaceX.
Despite the secrecy, the project has apparently found imitators in China. The Middle Kingdom has launched its own reusable spacecraft several times since 2020, but very little is still known about it. The third launch of the "Chongfu Shiyong Shiyan Hangtian Qi" took place on December 14, 2023, shortly before the X-37B. A few days later, it launched six mysterious satellites. Their purpose is unknown, but the events are reminiscent of earlier flights by the Chinese space glider. Objects had also been deployed in orbit. After 266 days in orbit, it returned to Earth at the beginning of September. It is not known when the X-37B will land again.
(mho)