X-37B Lands After 780 Days in Orbit Doing - Universe Today

X-37B Lands After 780 Days in Orbit Doing - Universe Today

The X-37B, the US Air Force’s experimental, Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) has come back down to Earth after 780 days. It landed at the Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility on Oct. 27, 2019, at 3:51 a.m. after breaking its own record for time in space. The X-37B has now spent 2,865 total days in orbit.


The question is, what’s it doing up there?



In a press release announcing the X-37B’s safe landing, various Air Force personnel spoke mostly in generalities. “The X-37B continues to demonstrate the importance of a reusable spaceplane,” said Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett. “Each successive mission advances our nation’s space capabilities.”
That’s great. Advancing capabilities is always great. But which capabilities were advanced?
“The safe return of this spacecraft, after breaking its own endurance record, is the result of the innovative partnership between government and industry,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein. “The sky is no longer the limit for the Air Force and, if Congress approves, the U.S. Space Force.” Ok. “Innovative partnership. Sky is no longer the limit.” We get it.
“This program continues to push the envelope as the world’s only reusable space vehicle. With a successful landing today, the X-37B completed its longest flight to date and successfully completed all mission objectives,” said Randy Walden, Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office director.
Now we’re getting somewhere. What were all those mission objectives it completed? The X-37B being refuelled at Vandenberg Air Force Base in October 2014. Image Credit: Boeing.“This mission successfully hosted Air Force Research Laboratory experiments, among others, as well as providing a ride for small satellites,” said Walden.
Great! What research laboratory experiments? Which small sat ..

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