US Air Force's Mysterious X-37B Space Plane Sets New Record In Space

The craft (pictured) was launched from Elon Musk's SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Nasa's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida

Daily Mail: US Air Force's mysterious X-37B space plane sets new record after spending 717 days in orbit (and we STILL don't know what it's doing)

* The unmanned aircraft was launched into space on September 7th 2017
* The craft was sent up aboard one of Elon Musk's SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets
* Its mission dubbed Orbital Test Vehicle-5 is top secret and details are scant
* Some believe it may be designed to pave the way for a future space force

A pilotless space plane operated by the US Air Force has completed a record 717 days in orbit – and, we still have no idea what its mission is.

The X-37B craft clocked 717 days, 20 hours and 42 minutes this morning at 6:43 a.m. EDT (1043 GMT), according to Space.com, bringing it past the spaceflight duration record set previously during the Orbital Test Vehicle 4 mission.

While it isn’t the longest flight ever, the feat marks a personal best for this line of craft, with each pushing a bit further than the mission before.

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More News On The US Air Force's Mysterious X-37B Space Plane Setting A New Record In Space

X-37B Military Space Plane Breaks Record on Latest Mystery Mission -- Space.com
The U.S. Air Force's Secretive X-37B Spaceplane Breaks Another Record -- Popular Mechanics
The US Air Force’s shadowy X-37B space plane breaks spaceflight record -- MIT Technology Review