Mission Details
The 's spaceplane, launched on December 28, 2023, aboard a rocket, is executing aerobraking maneuvers to change its orbit and safely discard its service module.
This seventh mission, emphasizing responsible space operations and debris mitigation, also tests space domain awareness technologies and conducts radiation effect experiments.
Strategic Context
The X-37B's current mission gains significance against the backdrop of competing space capabilities, notably 's recent spaceplane launch.
While the Space Force remains secretive about specific mission objectives and technologies, the X-37B's maneuvers showcase innovation in national security missions and the potential for future space warfare readiness.