An unmanned, Air Force space plane landed at Vandenberg Air Force base in California early Friday morning after seven months in orbit.
The X-37B is a joint effort between the 30th Space Wing, the U.S. Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, and Boeing. What the exact mission or purpose of the flight was, is still unknown but a spokesperson for the Air Force stated that the X-37B completed all on-orbit objectives that were set for the mission.
Back in April of this year, the space plane was launched on top of an Atlas V rocket. Since then the X-37B has been a target for skywatchers looking to get a glimpse of the plane in orbit. Eventually after tracking the plane, skywatchers took notice of it’s orbital changes.
Classification of the vehicle’s payload and exact missions has raised speculation that the plane could be used as a spy drone, or as a weapon capable of launching an attack from space. However an Air Force spokesperson stated that the space plane’s purpose is to conduct space-shuttle types of activities.
The Air Force has ordered another X-37B flight, which may launch in the spring of next year.
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| The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle waits in the encapsulation cell of the Evolved Expendable Launch vehicle April 5, 2010, at the Astrotech facility in Titusville, Fla. Half of the Atlas V five-meter fairing is visible in the background. Scheduled launch is April 20th, 2010. |
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| Amateur image taken of the X-37B in orbit. |
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| A crew of vehicle handlers clad in suits to protect against hazardous materials (like any remaining rocket fuel) approach the X-37B robot space plane after its successful Dec. 3 landing at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. |
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