homehome Home chatchat Notifications


Top-Secret Air Force plane lands after 2 year mission in Earth's orbit

After exactly 674 days in orbit, the Air Force’s top secret spaceplane landed in California on Friday. There’s very little anyone knows about the plane, apart from its name – X-37B – and the fact that it can fly in orbit unmanned. The two main assumptions are that it’s either a space plane or a bomber. Maybe […]

Tibi Puiu
October 20, 2014 @ 9:34 am

share Share

After exactly 674 days in orbit, the Air Force’s top secret spaceplane landed in California on Friday. There’s very little anyone knows about the plane, apart from its name – X-37B – and the fact that it can fly in orbit unmanned. The two main assumptions are that it’s either a space plane or a bomber. Maybe both.

A mysterious unmanned shuttle

X-37B

Courtesy of Boeing

The X-37B first flew in 2010 and again in 2011 and 2012. It’s only been a couple of days since it returned from its last mission, which lasted nearly two years. A lot of people are wondering now what the plane has been doing all this time. Initially, the mission was slated to last only nine months, further fueling suspicions.

“Technologies being tested in the program include advanced guidance, navigation and control, thermal protection systems, avionics, high temperature structures and seals, conformal reusable insulation, lightweight electromechanical flight systems and autonomous orbital flight, re-entry and landing,” the Air Force said in a statement

shuttle_x37b

Image: Boeing

Nothing mentioned of spy or weapon-carrying technology of course in the official statement. The air force also mentioned  it will take over former shuttle hangars at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, suggesting it plans to expand X-37B operations.

“The mission is our longest to date and we’re pleased with the incremental progress we’ve seen in our testing of the reusable space plane,” said the program manager of the mission in a statement. “The dedication and hard work by the entire team has made us extremely proud.”

To reach orbit, X-37B is piggy-bagged on a rocket and, once its mission is complete, returns from orbit like a plane.

“The X-37B is the newest and most advanced re-entry spacecraft,” the Air Force said in the statement. “Managed by the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, the X-37B program performs risk reduction, experimentation and concept of operations development for reusable space vehicle technologies.”

share Share

CAR T Breakthrough Therapy Doubles Survival Time for Deadly Stomach Cancer

Scientists finally figured out a way to take CAR-T cell therapy beyond blood.

The Sun Will Annihilate Earth in 5 Billion Years But Life Could Move to Jupiter's Icy Moon Europa

When the Sun turns into a Red Giant, Europa could be life's final hope in the solar system.

Ancient Roman ‘Fast Food’ Joint Served Fried Wild Songbirds to the Masses

Archaeologists uncover thrush bones in a Roman taberna, challenging elite-only food myths

A Man Lost His Voice to ALS. A Brain Implant Helped Him Sing Again

It's a stunning breakthrough for neuroprosthetics

This Plastic Dissolves in Seawater and Leaves Behind Zero Microplastics

Japanese scientists unveil a material that dissolves in hours in contact with salt, leaving no trace behind.

Women Rate Women’s Looks Higher Than Even Men

Across cultures, both sexes find female faces more attractive—especially women.

AI-Based Method Restores Priceless Renaissance Art in Under 4 Hours Rather Than Months

A digital mask restores a 15th-century painting in just hours — not centuries.

Meet the Dragon Prince: The Closest Known Ancestor to T-Rex

This nimble dinosaur may have sparked the evolution of one of the deadliest predators on Earth.

Your Breathing Is Unique and Can Be Used to ID You Like a Fingerprint

Your breath can tell a lot more about you that you thought.

In the UK, robotic surgery will become the default for small surgeries

In a decade, the country expects 90% of all keyhole surgeries to include robots.