In service since 2010, the X-37B orbital test vehicle was designed for the Air Force by United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket returned to space Thursday evening to carry the U.S. military’s secretive X-37B drone to a research mission.
After weeks of delays, the rocket launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 8:07 p.m. Eastern Time (01:07 GMT Friday), in a liftoff broadcast live on the site SpaceX Web.
It’s unclear where the uncrewed, autonomously operating spacecraft is headed for its seventh mission.
The Pentagon has released little information about the space drone and its mission, originally scheduled for Dec. 7, and SpaceX only cited the Pentagon’s mission code name, USSF-52, in its statement on the start.
“Falcon Heavy launched the USSF-52 mission into orbit from Launch Complex 39A,” SpaceX said.
Earlier, the Pentagon said the X-37B’s seventh mission would involve “multiple cutting-edge experiments.”
“These tests include operating the reusable spaceplane in new orbital regimes, experimenting with future space domain awareness technologies, and studying the effects of radiation on materials provided by NASA,” said the U.S. Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office in a statement last month.
He added that it was the first time the X-37B took off on a Falcon Heavy, one of the most powerful operational rockets, capable of carrying payloads of up to 26,700 kilograms (58,900 pounds) in space.
The Pentagon has released little information about the space drone and its mission.
The size of a small bus, the American X-37B space drone resembles a mini-version of the manned space shuttles retired from service in 2011. In previous missions, the X-37B has carried out tests for NASA on the impact of radiation on seeds. and other materials.
The Falcon Heavy launch comes two weeks after China sent its own secret robotic spaceplane, called Shenlong, into orbit for what the official Xinhua news agency called a “period of time.”
“During this period, reusable technology and space science verification experiments will be carried out as planned to provide technical support for the peaceful use of space,” Xinhua said after the Dec. 14 launch.
In service since 2010, the X-37B orbital test vehicle was designed for the Air Force by United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
It is nine meters long, has a wingspan of 15 feet and is powered by solar panels.
© 2023 AFP
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