Andrew Paul is Popular Science's staff writer covering tech news. Previously, he was a regular contributor to The A.V. Club and Input, and has had recent work featured by Rolling Stone, Fangoria, GQ, Slate, NBC, as well as McSweeney's Internet Tendency. He lives outside Indianapolis.
ArticleBody:One of the US Space Force’s secret space planes known as the X-37B is gearing up to shift its orbit in a big way. According to an official October 10 announcement from the USSF, the Boeing-built experimental aircraft has begun performing a series of maneuvers known as “aerobraking” that will see it change its altitude by conducting “a series of passes using the drag of Earth’s atmosphere.
The X-37B orbital test vehicle after concluding its sixth successful mission. Credit: USSF / Staff Sgt. Adam Shanks But if you’re hoping for much more detail than that, you’re out of luck. While experts previously noted its advanced maneuverability, observers still have questions about the space plane’s main payload bay that is roughly the same area as a truck bed, as well as its service module adapter capable of carrying even more equipment into orbit.
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