X-37B, a US military space plane, will create a new record by staying aloft for 780 days. Here is all you need to know about it.
US military space plane eyes on a new record
X-37B robotic space plane belonging to the US military is all set to create a new record of remaining aloft for 780 days. The reusable space plane has currently completed 773 days. According to the US Air Force, it is a premier reusable and unmanned spacecraft that allows scientists to recover experiments in space. They added, that the spacecraft “performs risk reduction, experimentation, and concept of operations development for reusable space vehicle technologies”.
The unique spacecraft tests new systems in space as the US seeks to maintain space superiority. It also conducts experiments for America’s future space exploration.
The X-37B’s mission 4 had stayed in orbit for 718 days. The recent mission was launched into orbit on May 17, 2020.
The craft is flown under the auspice of Delta 9, a US Space Force Unit established in July 2020.
“Delta 9 Detachment 1 oversees operations of the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle, an experimental program designed to demonstrate technologies for a reliable, reusable, unmanned space test platform for the U.S. Space Force,” stated Space Force officials.
More on the X-37B’s mission
The spacecraft is also testing new systems in space. The mission is important as the US is seeking to maintain its dominance in space.
As per reports, one of the experiments of the current mission includes investigating transforming solar power into radio frequency microwave energy and the deployment of FalconSat-8 which is said to be a small satellite.
Moreover, several experiments are classified. Additionally, the X-37B will also study seeds that are used to grow food in a space environment.
While the X-37B is designed for flying missions up to 270 days, every flight apart from the first has been going longer.