Share this @internewscast.com

The United States military is preparing to launch its secretive X-37B space plane on a seventh mission in orbit.

The uncrewed vehicle, which resembles a miniature space shuttle, is slated to lift off Sunday from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a 10-minute launch window that opens at 8:14 p.m. ET. For the first time, the X-37B will ride into orbit atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.

Since its debut more than a decade ago, the X-37B has been a source of intrigue within the space community, mostly owing to the mysterious nature of its activities in low Earth orbit. Despite not knowing its true purpose or location, skywatchers have occasionally spotted and photographed the space plane in the night sky using telescopes.

The U.S. Space Force typically does not disclose the classified aspects of X-37B missions. As such, little is known about the types of activities the robotic vehicle carries out in orbit.

For this upcoming flight, dubbed OTV-7, the X-37B will conduct various tests, including “experimenting with space domain awareness technologies and investigating the radiation effects to NASA materials,” according to the Space Force.

On the X-37B’s last mission, which spanned 908 days in orbit, the space plane lifted off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Before that, the vehicle rode to space five times on United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rockets. The Falcon Heavy booster is significantly more powerful than both, allowing the X-37B to operate in “new orbital regimes,” Space Force officials said in a statement.

It’s not known how long the X-37B will remain in space, or where and at what altitude it will ultimately orbit.

The military is tight-lipped about such operations, but the Space Force said the X-37B missions “are key to ensuring safe and responsible operations in space for all users of the space domain.”

“This seventh flight of the X-37B continues to demonstrate the innovative spirit of the United States Space Force,” Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said in a statement.

The mini space plane was built by Boeing and measures about 29 feet long. Like NASA’s space shuttles, the X-37B is designed to return to Earth and land on a runway.

The vehicle launched on its first mission in 2010 and has since logged 3,774 days in orbit over six flights.

On previous outings, Space Force officials said the X-37B’s civilian science experiments included tests of technology to harness solar energy and transmit power to the ground, as well as experiments on how organic materials fare when exposed to the environment of space for long periods of time.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Julian McMahon dies after cancer battle

Julian McMahon Passes Away Following Cancer Struggle

McMahon gained fame for his role as the plastic surgeon Dr. Christian…
Tropical Storm Chantal forms off South Carolina coast

Tropical Storm Chantal Develops Near the Coast of South Carolina

On Saturday morning, Tropical Storm Chantal emerged near the coast of South…
Parents desperately seeking answers on missing campers after Texas flood

Identities Released of Three Campers Who Died as Texas Flood Death Toll Increases

Three young girls were found dead after a devastating flood swept through…
Multiple arrested as anti-ICE protesters clash with police, US troops in Los Angeles

Numerous Arrests at Los Angeles Protest as Anti-ICE Demonstrators Face Off with Police and US Troops

On Friday, several individuals were taken into custody in Los Angeles as…
Tucker Carlson set to release interview with Iranian president

Tucker Carlson prepares to unveil an interview with the Iranian president

Tucker Carlson is preparing to unveil an interview with Iran’s president, posing…
Mexico President Sheinbaum hopes deported boxer Chávez Jr. will serve time in Mexico

Mexican President Sheinbaum Wishes for Deported Boxer Chávez Jr. to Face Justice in Mexico

Mexico City — President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico stated on Friday that…
Legoland opens resort in Shanghai, the first in China

Legoland launches its inaugural resort in Shanghai, China

It is one of 11 parks across the world and was built…
MSNBC Trivializes the Holocaust to Score Political Points on Trump and 'Alligator Alcatraz'

MSNBC Minimizes the Holocaust to Politicize Trump and ‘Alligator Alcatraz’

The article, “Don’t call it ‘Alligator Alcatraz.’ Call it a concentration camp,”…
Pope Leo XIV Illinois childhood home purchased by village of Dolton

The Village of Dolton Buys Pope Leo XIV’s Childhood Home in Illinois

The 1,050-square-foot home in Dolton, south Chicago, was bought by the Pope’s…
Justin Verlander's brutal losing streak continues with loss

Justin Verlander Suffers Another Defeat as Losing Streak Grows

Justin Verlander didn’t try to hide from the results. The latest loss,…
Christie Brinkley admits she is a 'fool for love' despite four failed marriages

Christie Brinkley Confesses She’s a ‘Romantic at Heart’ Even After Four Divorces

Christie Brinkley is no stranger to love. The legendary supermodel, who has been…
As the Death Toll Rises in Texas, Democrats Choose to Be Black-Souled, Evil Ghouls

Texas Tragedy Escalates: Democrats Criticized for Lack of Empathy

The devastating news from Texas keeps worsening as the number of deaths…