For the first time ever, the US Space Force has shared a declassified image of its mysterious X-37B space plane, which has been silently orbiting Earth on a top-secret mission.
This uncrewed spacecraft, launched by SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy in December 2023, is currently on its seventh classified mission. Officially known as the Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV), the X-37B has remained shrouded in secrecy since its first flight in 2010. Until now, very little has been revealed about its operations – until the US military dropped a rare glimpse into its latest journey.
The photo, shared on X (formerly Twitter), captures a portion of the X-37B gliding through space with Earth glowing in the background. According to the US Space Force, the spacecraft is conducting radiation effect experiments and testing Space Domain Awareness technologies in a highly elliptical orbit – meaning it travels from 1,000 km to over 35,700 km away from Earth.
This mission also marks a first in orbital aerobraking, a fuel-efficient technique to adjust altitude. The internet, of course, had thoughts. “WE HAVE SPACE PLANES?!” one user exclaimed. Another speculated, “This is definitely a ‘we’re watching you’ moment.”
When its mission is complete, the X-37B will land autonomously at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, adding another chapter to its mysterious legacy in space exploration.
