US military spaceplane used to carry out orbital maneuvers

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Space Force said its secretive X-37B spaceplane will conduct a series of maneuvers to change its orbit and jettison components.

The reusable spacecraft, in orbit since Dec. 28, 2023, will perform aerobraking maneuvers to change its trajectory around Earth, the Space Force said Oct. 10. This technique involves making multiple passes through the planet's upper atmosphere, using atmospheric drag to change the vehicle's orbit while saving fuel.

These maneuvers are also intended to demonstrate responsible space operations, the Space Force said. Air braking allows the spaceplane to change orbit and comply with space debris containment rules by safely disposing of the service module.

The X-37B, manufactured by Boeing, is operated jointly by the US Space Force and the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office. Since its launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the spaceplane has been conducting radiation effects experiments and testing space domain sensing technologies in a highly elliptical orbit.

Experts note that the X-37B's current mission, its seventh to date, has become more important given recent developments in other nations' space capabilities. The X-37B launch came just two weeks after China sent its own Shenlong spaceplane into orbit, fueling speculation about both countries' intentions.

In orbit for long periods of time

Capable of operating at altitudes between 150 and 500 miles above Earth, the This longevity allows for longer studies of the effects of space radiation and other environmental factors on various materials and technologies.

“There is no other space platform as capable, flexible and maneuverable as the X-37B,” Michelle Parker, vice president of Boeing’s Space Mission Systems, said in a statement.

After completing its aerobraking maneuvers, the X-37B will resume its testing and experimentation objectives. Once these are achieved, the vehicle will deorbit and return to Earth, using its autonomous landing system to land horizontally like a conventional aircraft.

The Space Force has not announced the expected duration of the current mission.

“This unique maneuver by the

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