A newly released photo from the X-37B shows Earth from orbit (left). The space plane took off for its seventh mission on December 28, 2023. Space.com
The US Space Force has released a rare image of its secretive X-37B space plane while it orbits high above Earth. This is the first time the public has seen a photo of the spacecraft in action. The image was taken by an onboard camera and shows part of the space plane's solar panel and open payload bay.
The X-37B has been in orbit for over a year since launching on December 28, 2023, aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. It is currently on its seventh mission, carrying out various experiments and testing new technologies in space. The new photo reveals just how far the spacecraft is from Earth, operating much higher than previous missions.
Before this, the only other look at the X-37B in space came during its last launch when a brief clip showed it separating from the Falcon Heavy rocket. The latest image provides a much clearer view, though it does not reveal many details about its activities.
The US Space Force has stated that this mission includes testing new ways to monitor space activities, studying radiation effects on materials for NASA, and experimenting with different orbital maneuvers. Unlike past missions, which were limited to low Earth orbit, this time, the X-37B is flying much farther away. The Falcon Heavy rocket is capable of reaching geosynchronous orbit, which is over 22,000 miles (35,000 km) from Earth.
Recently, the X-37B has been testing an "aerobraking maneuver." This technique uses Earth's atmosphere to slow down and adjust the spacecraft’s orbit while using minimal fuel. The Space Force confirmed that the onboard camera captured the latest image while the spacecraft conducted these experiments.
"The X-37B's onboard camera captures an image of Earth while conducting experiments in a highly elliptical orbit in 2024," the Space Force stated. "As part of its seventh mission, the vehicle executed a series of first-of-its-kind aerobraking maneuvers to safely change its orbit using minimal fuel."
Though the exact details of its mission remain classified, the X-37B serves as a test platform for advanced space technologies. It has been used for experiments on solar power transmission, thermal protection systems, and autonomous flight. According to the Space Force, it is the "most advanced re-entry spacecraft" designed to improve reusable space vehicle technology.
The space plane's previous mission lasted a record 908 days before landing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in November 2022. The Space Force has not revealed when the current mission will end, keeping the return date a mystery.
Meanwhile, China is also developing its own reusable space plane. Their spacecraft launched on its third mission just two weeks before the X-37B's latest flight, raising speculation about growing competition in space technology.
