Insider Brief
- SpaceX Falcon Heavy lifted the X-37B robot spaceplane into orbit.
- Experts suggested that the rocket could lift the secretive vehicle into a higher orbit than previous missions.
- The launch followed two weeks of delays.
- Image: Falcon Heavy demo mission from Official SpaceX Photos, Creator: Official SpaceX Photos from Flickr.
U.S. Space Force’s secretive X-37B robot spaceplane got a special ride as it embarked on its seventh mission on Thursday night. Launched from Florida, this mission is notable for being the first to utilize a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, as reported by Reuters. This rocket is distinguished by its increased power, enabling the X-37B to reach higher orbits than previously possible.
The liftoff from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral was an impressive sight, with the Falcon Heavy’s three liquid-fueled rocket cores propelling the spacecraft into the sky. The launch followed over two weeks of delays due to adverse weather conditions and technical issues, which required returning the spacecraft to its hangar.
This mission occurs amid heightened space rivalry between the U.S. and China, especially in light of the launch of China’s Shenlong spaceplane on its third orbital mission since 2020. The U.S. Space Force, under the National Security Space Launch program, conducts the X-37B mission, with few details disclosed to the public.
Boeing, a key player in aerospace manufacturing, constructed the X-37B. Resembling a mini space shuttle, this vehicle is capable of deploying various payloads and conducting technological experiments during extended orbital flights. Following its mission, it re-enters the atmosphere and lands like an airplane.
Since its debut flight in 2010, the X-37B has completed six missions, previously launched by Atlas V rockets from United Launch Alliance, a collaboration between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, according to Reuters. The most recent mission prior to this was in May 2020, launched by a Falcon 9 booster provided by SpaceX.
The enhanced capabilities of the Falcon Heavy rocket suggest that the X-37B could be deployed into geosynchronous orbit, over 22,000 miles above Earth. The Pentagon has remained silent on the specific altitude for this mission. However, the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office hinted last month at testing in new orbital regimes and experimenting with space domain awareness technologies, Reuters reported.
Speculation abounds about the X-37B’s potential trajectory, including the possibility of a highly elliptical orbit or even a path near the moon.
Bob Hall, director of COMSPOC, a space traffic monitoring firm, told Reuters, “Maybe this thing’s going to go out toward the moon and drop off a payload.”
A trajectory closer to the moon presents more challenges for safe return.
SpaceX’s webcast of the launch, which was shortened at the military’s request, left some uncertainty about the X-37B’s final destination. However, SpaceX later shared images of the launch on social media, affirming the mission’s progression.
A notable aspect of this mission is a NASA experiment on the X-37B, studying the effects of space radiation on plant seeds, which has implications for future space agriculture and astronaut nourishment on long-term missions to the moon and Mars.
In contrast, China’s Shenlong, shrouded in secrecy, was launched by a less powerful Long March 2F rocket, presumably restricted to low-Earth orbit. General B. Chance Saltzman of the Space Force suggested to reporters at an industry conference that the timing of the Shenlong launch in proximity to the X-37B’s was likely competitive.
While the duration of the X-37B’s latest mission remains undisclosed, patterns from previous missions suggest it could extend until June 2026 or later, according to Reuters. Its last mission, surpassing two years in orbit, concluded in November 2022, marking a step forward in the U.S. military’s evolving space capabilities.
For more market insights, check out our latest space industry news here.
Share this article:
