Secretive spaceplane lands after record-breaking 908 days in orbit

By Dean Murray via SWNS

A secretive spaceplane has landed after a record-breaking 908 days in orbit.

The U.S. Space Force's X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) set a new endurance record before landing at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday, November 12.

It surpasses its previous record of 780 days on-orbit.

There were reports that Florida residents were awoken after hearing re-entry sonic booms as the craft headed for touchdown at 5:15 A.M.

One Twitter user wrote: "Was startled awake by what sounded like an explosion. Came here and half of Florida is talking about a sonic boom. Nice to get confirmation that I’m not hearing things!"

With the successful completion of its sixth mission, the reusable spaceplane has now flown over 1.3 billion miles and spent a total of 3,774 days in space.

The Boeing-built craft conducts experiments for government and industry partners with the ability to return them to Earth for evaluation.

For the first time, the vehicle carried a service module to augment the number of payloads it can haul.

The module separated from the OTV prior to de-orbiting ensuring a safe and successful landing.

“This mission highlights the Space Force's focus on collaboration in space exploration and expanding low-cost access to space for our partners, within and outside of the Department of the Air Force (DAF),” said Gen. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations.

The sixth mission was launched atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in May 2020.

Hosted experiments included a solar energy experiment designed by the Naval Research Lab, as well as a satellite designed and built by cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy in partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory.

The satellite, dubbed FalconSat-8, was successfully deployed in October 2021 and remains in orbit today.

“Since the X-37B’s first launch in 2010, it has shattered records and provided our nation with an unrivaled capability to rapidly test and integrate new space technologies,” said Jim Chilton, senior vice president, Boeing Space and Launch.

“With the service module added, this was the most we’ve ever carried to orbit on the X-37B and we’re proud to have been able to prove out this new and flexible capability for the government and its industry partners.”