🔍 Summary:
The U.S. Space Force’s secretive X-37B space plane has successfully completed its seventh mission, returning to Earth after 434 days in orbit. Launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on December 29, 2023, aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, the mission has been hailed as a significant advancement in reusable space technology. Although specific details about the mission remain classified, it involved conducting experiments related to space radiation and space domain awareness technology, which involves detecting objects in orbit.
A notable achievement of this mission was the execution of several aerobraking maneuvers, a technique that uses atmospheric drag to reduce the spacecraft’s altitude while conserving fuel. This method contrasts with the typical use of built-in thrusters in satellites for altitude adjustment. The X-37B, built by Boeing and originally a NASA project before being transferred to the military in 2004, is designed to launch vertically, conduct experiments in orbit for extended periods, and then land like an airplane. Its longest mission lasted 909 days, highlighting its capability for long-duration spaceflight. The recent mission underscores the ongoing development and potential of reusable spacecraft technologies.
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