The US Air Force’s mysterious space plane aims to break another record by spending longer than two years in low-Earth orbit. The X-37B is set to take off on May 16 and is not expected to return home until mid-2022 – the previous record was a 780-day mission in 2019 (pictured)
Daily Mail: Secretive Air Force X-37B space plane is launching its sixth mission in May that's expected to break its previous record of 780 days in low orbit
* The X-37B space plane is set to go on its sixth mission on May 16 from Florida
* The craft is expected to again spend more than two years in space after its prior 780-day mission
* The space plane allows the US Air Force to secretly test new technologies
The US Air Force’s mysterious space plane aims to break another record by again spending longer than two years in low-Earth orbit.
The X-37B is set to take off on May 16 and is not expected to return home until mid-2022 – the previous record was a 780-day mission that finished in 2019.
The mission, dubbed OTV-6, is set to take off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, riding atop a liquid fueled Atlas V rocket.
This pilotless craft has been performing a range of classified missions for the military group since 2010, allowing the group to test new technologies in space.
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More News On The U.S. Air Force's X-37B Space Plane Preparing To Launch In May
The X-37B Spaceplane Is Gearing Up for Its Next Mission -- Popular Mechanics
ULA begins stacking rocket for next launch of U.S. military spaceplane -- SpaceFlight Now
The U.S. Air Force's X-37B Space Plane Could Soon Leave Earth for 2 Years -- National Interest
I don't believe on spying mission because we have largely enough satellites for that. Testings are a better approach. I don't believe either on "2years testing" technology, because military know that in case of war, satellites will not survive that much long. But a "testing chain" is a better way. This will give us a much better view for further development.
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