A secret experimental spacecraft will perform a new specialized braking maneuver as it re-enters Earth’s atmosphere, the United States Space Force announced.
The X-37B is a classified spacecraft, remotely operated and designed by Boeing for purposes that remain unclear, serving the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). Although its mission is classified, the spacecraft has previously acted as a platform to test the effects of solar radiation on seeds. It may also test new military surveillance technologies, according to reports from The New York Times and The Guardian.
The X-37B will perform a series of controlled landings into Earth’s atmosphere (Photo: Boeing Space).
In its latest maneuver, the X-37B will execute a “aerodynamic braking” – a series of controlled landings into Earth’s atmosphere in which the spacecraft intentionally uses aerodynamic drag to alter its trajectory without consuming excessive fuel.
“This sequence of novel and efficient maneuvers demonstrates the Space Force’s commitment to achieving breakthrough innovation in carrying out national security missions in space,” said U.S. Air Force Chief Frank Kendall.
The aerodynamic braking tests will enable the X-37B to change its orbit quickly and unpredictably, potentially temporarily preventing detection by other nations. In 2019, former U.S. Air Force leader Heather Wilson told attendees at the Aspen Security Forum that the X-37B could perform this maneuver “on the far side of the Earth from our adversaries,” making it difficult for them to accurately predict the spacecraft’s trajectory.
The X-37B began its seventh mission (OTV-7) in December 2023 after launching aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. It is monitored by both the Space Force and the U.S. Air Force’s Rapid Capabilities Office.
The X-37B spacecraft has been tested for 15 years, with missions few and far between. This remotely operated spacecraft is approximately 9 meters long and 3 meters high, capable of orbiting from just a few hundred to several thousand miles above Earth after being launched by a rocket. It resembles a miniature space shuttle and is reusable as it can land on a runway at the end of each mission.
The X-37B can operate in space for several continuous years, having orbited Earth for 908 days during its OTV-6 flight, with onboard solar panels enabling battery recharging. With its long orbital duration, it has the capability to monitor satellites in Earth orbit, including those of adversaries.
