The U.S. Space Force’s unmanned X-37B space plane continues to orbit Earth, raising questions about its true purpose.
While many of its missions remain classified, some details about its work in 2024 have been revealed by the U.S. Department of Defense.
A Long-Term Orbital Mission
The Boeing-designed X-37B is currently on its seventh mission, launched on December 28, 2023.
As of now, the space plane has been in orbit for over a year—389 days, to be precise. This is impressive but far from its longest mission, which lasted a record 908 days and concluded in 2022.
The X-37B’s exact tasks during its orbital patrols are still unclear.
Officially, it is described as a platform for testing new space technologies and conducting experiments. However, speculation suggests its purpose could extend to military and surveillance applications.
According to WP Tech, one confirmed mission of the X-37B involves studying the effects of cosmic radiation on seed viability and testing thermal radiation protection coatings for NASA. These experiments align with its stated goal of supporting reusable space vehicle technology.
The U.S. military describes the mission as focusing on "risk reduction, experimentation, and concept development" for reusable spacecraft.
Still, the secrecy surrounding its primary role fuels speculation about potential uses, such as intelligence gathering or military operations.
Innovative Aerobraking Technology
During its current mission, the X-37B achieved a significant breakthrough: it successfully tested a new aerobraking maneuver.
This technique, used to adjust its orbit and safely remove service modules, helps minimize space debris. The maneuver is a first for the X-37B and builds on knowledge gained from previous missions, including those to the Moon and Mars.
“This innovative maneuver demonstrates the Space Force’s commitment to groundbreaking advancements while ensuring national security in space,” said U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall. Gen. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations, called the achievement “an incredibly important milestone for the U.S. Space Force.”
