Another U.S. military mini shuttle blasted off Thursday night to conduct classified experiments in space.

A space plane, developed by SpaceX and unmanned, launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida. This marks the eighth mission for the experimental X-37B vehicles. The current mission involves testing laser communication systems and ensuring safe navigation without relying on GPS, as stated by the U.S. Space Force.

The duration for which this mini shuttle will stay in orbit is still unknown. The preceding X-37B mission concluded after slightly over a year in space, landing back on Earth in March. Past missions have ranged from several months to multiple years.

The Boeing-made reusable space planes were first launched in 2010 and are 29 feet (9 meters) long with a wingspan of almost 15 feet (4.5 meters).

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AP science writer Adithi Ramakrishnan contributed.

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