SpaceX Successfully Launches X-37B Space Force Rocket Plane on Classified Mission

Late Thursday, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully lifted off, sending a reusable X-37B Space Force rocket plane on a secret long-duration mission. This launch was significant as it represented the eighth flight of the X-37B program, which began in 2010, and followed the first mission that had lasted 434 days, concluding in March.

The Falcon 9 took off from the historic launch pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center, lighting up the night sky as it soared at 11:50 p.m. EDT. The rocket generated an impressive 1.7 million pounds of thrust from its nine first-stage engines before the first stage detached, performed a flip, and successfully landed at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, completing its sixth flight. This marked SpaceX's 66th booster recovery in Florida and the 490th overall.

As is customary with classified missions for the Space Force, details regarding the second stage of the Falcon 9 and the orbit of the X-37B were not disclosed after the launch commentary ended. Previous missions involving the X-37B have varied significantly in duration, ranging from 224 days to as long as 909 days in orbit, but the duration of this latest mission remains unknown.

While specifics about the mission were kept under wraps, Space Force and Boeing officials did reveal information regarding two of the onboard payloads. One payload is focused on testing high-speed laser communications between the X-37B and small satellite systems, which would enhance the U.S. Space Force's capabilities in utilizing proliferated space networks. General Chance Saltzman described this advancement as vital for bolstering the resilience and efficiency of satellite communications.

The second disclosed payload is a cutting-edge quantum navigation sensor that aims to accurately determine the spacecraft's position in space without relying on traditional GPS. Colonel Ramsey Horn of Space Delta 9 highlighted its potential for navigation in areas where GPS isn't accessible, marking an important step for the Space Force's operations.

The X-37B, resembling a smaller version of a space shuttle with distinct features like stubby delta wings and dual tail fins, is designed for various missions. Operated by the Pentagon's Rapid Capabilities Office, these vehicles serve as platforms for testing advanced technologies and conducting experiments. With solar cells and batteries powering them, the X-37Bs have a payload bay for diverse experiment packages.

Designed to land on runways like those used by space shuttles, the X-37B demonstrated its successful capabilities during its most recent flight, which began with a SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch at the end of December 2023 and concluded in March, after spending over 434 days in space. Collectively, the two X-37Bs have accumulated an impressive total of approximately 11 and a half years in space across their missions.