By Gill Bikram Singh 
The United States government’s highly secretive X-37B space plane has returned to Earth after completing a 434-day mission in orbit, according to a statement from the US Space Force (USSF). The 29-foot-long unmanned spacecraft landed at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Friday, March 7, at 2:22 am local time, marking the successful completion of its seventh mission.
In a statement, the US Space Force highlighted the mission’s significance:
“The US Space Force landed the X-37B at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, to demonstrate its rapid ability to launch and recover systems across multiple sites. Mission 7 was the first to launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy Rocket to a Highly Elliptical Orbit.”
Groundbreaking Aerobraking Maneuver
While the exact details of the mission remain classified, General Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations, confirmed the successful execution of a first-of-its-kind aerobraking maneuver during the mission.
He stated:
“Mission 7 broke new ground by showcasing the X-37B’s ability to flexibly accomplish its test and experimentation objectives across various orbital regimes.”
Aerobraking is a complex maneuver where a spacecraft makes multiple passes through Earth’s atmosphere, using atmospheric drag to alter its orbit while conserving fuel. After completing its objectives and transitioning to a Low Earth Orbit, the X-37B successfully executed its deorbit and landing procedures.
First Image of X-37B Released
In February 2024, the US Space Force released the first image of the X-37B in orbit. The photograph, taken by an onboard camera, shows Earth from the spacecraft’s vantage point while it was conducting experiments above the African continent.
The USSF noted:
“An X-37B onboard camera, used to ensure the health and safety of the vehicle, captures an image of Earth while conducting experiments in HEO (Highly Elliptical Orbit) in 2024.”
The statement also emphasized that the space plane executed aerobraking maneuvers to safely change its orbit while using minimal fuel.
What is the X-37B?
Operated by the Space Force’s Rapid Capabilities Office, the X-37B is a 29-foot-long spacecraft with a 15-foot wingspan, designed to test advanced technologies. These include:
- Propulsion systems
- Thermal protection
- Autonomous reentry capabilities
The X-37B has been a crucial part of the US’s space experimentation program, allowing for the development and testing of cutting-edge space technologies while maintaining secrecy surrounding its specific objectives.
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