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Science & Technology
First In-Orbit Image Released From Classified X-37 Spaceplane
2025-02-22
[ZH] On Thursday evening, the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs published the first-ever in-orbit image captured by Boeing's X-37 spaceplane, which was shared on the DVIDS website.

USAF Public Affairs described the photo, taken by an onboard camera designed to monitor the X-37's "health and safety," as showing Earth in the distant background during a series of "experiments in a highly elliptical orbit in 2024."

"As part of the X-37 B's seventh mission, the vehicle executed a series of first-of-its-kind maneuvers, called aerobraking, to safely change its orbit using minimal fuel," the public affairs office said.

The top-secret spaceplane, built by Boeing and operated by the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office and the Space Force, has spent years in space quietly conducting classified missions. Its real purpose has yet to be revealed.

With each successive top-secret mission, the X-37B spends long and longer time in orbit:

OTV-1: launched on Apr. 22, 2010 and landed on Dec. 3, 2010, spending over 224 days in orbit.

OTV-2: launched on Mar. 5, 2011 and landed on Jun. 16, 2012, spending over 468 days in orbit.

OTV-3: launched on Dec. 11, 2012 and landed on Oct. 17, 2014, spending over 674 days in orbit.

OTV-4: launched on May 20, 2015 and landed on May 7, 2015, spending nearly 718 days in orbit.

OTV-5: launched on Sept. 7, 2017 and landed on Oct. 27, 2019, spending nearly 780 days in orbit.

OTV-6: launched on May 17, 2020 and landed on Nov. 12, 2022, spending over 908 days in orbit.

OTV-7: launched on Dec. 29, 2023 ... still ongoing...

In the age of DOGE, perhaps it's time for the Space Force to provide more color on the spaceplane's objectives to determine if the return on investment for taxpayers is truly justified.

Posted by:Skidmark

#10  'easy' ?

Easy enough when you don't have to factor in environmental stuff.

Of course it's all relative, nothing easy about space, much less coming back to earth intact.

It's much simpler when one can leave outr certain stuff...
Posted by: Seeking Cure For Ignorance   2025-02-22 22:31  

#9  That's geosync range.

Hazmat suits for the toxic fuel spillage.
Might be recharging the old dinosaurs out there in the mothball orbits.
Posted by: Skidmark   2025-02-22 16:35  

#8  Looks like 22,000 Miles orbit...had to look it up.
Posted by: Ulailet+Thud3602   2025-02-22 14:09  

#7  Curious as to those hazmat suits.
Posted by: Rex Mundi   2025-02-22 13:46  

#6   No death rays though.
That'll be the Israeli version ;-)

I had no idea it was flying at such a high altitude
Posted by: Frank G   2025-02-22 12:57  

#5  Divisions of Boeing still work very well. X-37 is an amazing craft and its real purpose is just testing tech. What it is testing... well... let's just say it has been guessed and not talked about by the press. I'll leave the rest to your imagination. No death rays though.
Posted by: DarthVader   2025-02-22 12:53  

#4  'easy' ?
Posted by: Skidmark   2025-02-22 09:58  

#3  Easy to get right when you don't have to carry living creatures...
Posted by: Seeking Cure For Ignorance   2025-02-22 09:29  

#2  Space Drone
Posted by: Procopius2k   2025-02-22 08:57  

#1  Cool pics. At least Boeing got this right, it seems
Posted by: Frank G   2025-02-22 08:20  

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