The Air Force’s secretive X-37B space plane landed at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., on Sunday, ending a 718-day classified mission involving experiments conducted while orbiting the Earth.
It’s the fourth mission for the Air Force’s “unmanned, reusable space plane” program, which has now logged 2,085 days in orbit.
“Today marks an incredibly exciting day for the 45th Space Wing as we continue to break barriers,” said Brig. Gen. Wayne Monteith, the 45th Space Wing commander, in a statement. “Our team has been preparing for this event for several years, and I am extremely proud to see our hard work and dedication culminate in today’s safe and successful landing of the X-37B.”
An Air Force fact sheet on the Boeing aircraft gives a general rundown of the technologies being tested on board: “advanced guidance, navigation and control, thermal protection systems, avionics, high temperature structures and seals, conformal reusable insulation, lightweight electromechanical flight systems, advanced propulsion systems, advanced materials and autonomous orbital flight, reentry and landing.”
“The landing of OTV-4 marks another success for the X-37B program and the nation,” said Lt. Col. Ron Fehlen, X-37B program manager. “This mission once again set an on-orbit endurance record and marks the vehicle’s first landing in the state of Florida. We are incredibly pleased with the performance of the space vehicle and are excited about the data gathered to support the scientific and space communities. We are extremely proud of the dedication and hard work by the entire team.”
The next mission for the plane is scheduled for sometime later this year, and will launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
Workers examiner the X-37B space plane after it landed in Florida on Sunday. (Air Force photo)B
