An unmanned U.S. military space plane landed early Saturday after spending a record 908 days in orbit for its sixth mission and conducting science experiments.
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The Boeing-built X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) is shown
at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. The
unmanned U.S. military space plane landed early Saturday after spending a
record 908 days in orbit for its sixth mission and conducting science
experiments. The solar-powered vehicle, which looks like a miniature space
shuttle, landed at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Its previous mission lasted 780
days. Credit: Boeing /U.S. Space Force via AP |
The solar-powered vehicle, which looks like a miniature
space shuttle, landed at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Its previous mission
lasted 780 days.
"Since the X-37B's first launch in 2010, it has
shattered records and provided our nation with an unrivaled capability to
rapidly test and integrate new space technologies," said Jim Chilton, a
senior vice president for Boeing, its developer.
For the first time, the space plane hosted a service module
that carried experiments for the Naval Research Laboratory, U.S. Air Force
Academy and others. The module separated from the vehicle before de-orbiting to
ensure a safe landing.
Among the experiments was a satellite dubbed the FalconSat-8
that was designed and built by academy cadets in partnership with the Air Force
Research Laboratory. It was deployed in October 2021 and still remains in
orbit.
Another experiment evaluated the effects of long-duration
space exposure on seeds.
"This mission highlights the Space Force's focus on
collaboration in space exploration and expanding low-cost access to space for
our partners, within and outside of the Department of the Air Force," said
Gen. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations.
The X-37Be has now flown over 1.3 billion miles and spent a
total of 3,774 days in space.
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