It's not every day that we get a glimpse of what the mysterious X-37B space plane is up to in orbit. This week, the US Space Force shared a captivating picture that it claims was snapped last year by the X-37B. The image shows Earth in the distance, along with a portion of the spacecraft itself. The X-37B launched on its seventh mission at the end of 2023, but details about the mission remain scarce.
The previous flight of the X-37B, which concluded in 2022, set a new endurance record for the space plane, logging an impressive 908 days in orbit. This achievement underscores the space plane's capabilities and the potential for extended missions in space.
While there isn't a wealth of information to extract from the photo, it does provide a rare look at the X-37B in space. The US Space Force commented, “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 in 2024.” This statement hints at the ongoing experiments and the strategic uses of the X-37B in high Earth orbit (HEO).
The image and its context highlight the secretive nature of the X-37B missions, leaving space enthusiasts and experts eager for more information about the objectives and outcomes of these enigmatic flights.
