Mini American space shuttle lands after secretly orbiting Earth for 434 Days

The US military’s secret mini space shuttle came back to Earth on Friday after orbiting the globe for 434 days.

The space plane soared into orbit from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in December 2023 for a classified mission. Initiated by SpaceX, the X-37B craft had no astronauts onboard, only military tests.

Its early morning landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California was revealed only hours later. Images depicted the black-and-white space plane stationed on the runway in the dark. This marks the seventh flight of such a test vehicle. Space Force representatives stated that the mission effectively showcased the capability to alter orbits by utilizing atmospheric drag to decelerate, conserving fuel.

“It’s a thrilling new phase in the X-37B initiative,” program director Lt. Col. Blaine Stewart stated in a communiqué.

Initially introduced in 2010, the reusable space planes manufactured by Boeing have remained in space for periods of up to 908 days. They measure 29 feet (9 meters) in length and have a wingspan nearing 15 feet (4.5 meters).