We don't know when the plane will return, though.
Orbital Test Vehicle-6 of its X-37B space plane. The all-automated spacecraft, capable of re-entry, is now nearing an orbital record of 780 days, set by the preceding flight, the OTV-5 in 2019,Built by Boeing, the X-37B is an unmanned space vehicle designed to support long-term space objectives with reusable vehicle technologies. The
in low-Earth orbit at distances of 150-500 miles above the Earth and is the first vehicle since the space shuttle with the ability to return experiments to Earth. when compared to the Space Shuttle. It features many first in the space industry such as the use of an avionics system that automates all de-orbit and landing functions as well as flight controls and braking that uses no hydraulics at all.
The space plane is built using a light composite material instead of aluminum and uses new generation toughened uni-piece ceramic and silica tiles. Boeing also states that the X-37B is designed for easy maintenance and operation, delivering affordability. The first flight of the X-37B, OTV-1 took place in 2010. For its launch, the spacecraft was strapped onto a launch vehicle which places it in orbit.
Although Boeing claims that the space plane is designed to stay in orbit for up to 270 days, subsequent missions using X-37B have lasted longer than the predecessor. OTV-2's mission lasted 468 days in orbit, while OTV-3 spent over 674 days. OTV-4, launched in 2015, spent 718 days in orbit, while the last concluded mission, The current mission of OTV-6 has so far clocked 773 days in orbit, just a week shy of the record stay.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
US military's mysterious X-37B space plane zooms toward orbital recordThe X-37B is just a week away from setting a new mission-duration mark.
Read more »
US military's mysterious X-37B space plane zooms toward orbital recordThe X-37B is just a week away from setting a new mission-duration mark.
Read more »
Shuttered full-scale space station mockup finds new use with Axiom SpaceThe ISS mockup was part of a Fry's Electronics store in Texas.
Read more »
Music Fills the Rothko ChapelThe Rothko Chapel, which turned 50 last year, reopened in 2020 after an extensive restoration. To celebrate the anniversary, the composer Tyshawn Sorey premièred “Monochromatic Light (Afterlife),” his gripping new work, in the chapel.
Read more »
This galaxy cluster is so big, it actually warps space-timeNASA's Hubble space telescope captured an image of a galaxy cluster that is so massive it actually warps space-time around it.
Read more »
Cygnus Boosts the International Space Station for the First Time. NASA Can Now Potentially Keep the Station Aloft Without Russia's Progress SpacecraftNorthrup Grumman’s Cygnus cargo spacecraft conducted a successful reboost of the International Space Station over the past weekend, on Saturday, June 25, 2022. The Cygnus NG-17 “Piers Sellers” is the first US-based spacecraft to provide a substantial orbital adjustment to the ISS since the space shuttles retired in 2011. Russia’s Progress cargo spacecraft has been … Continue reading 'Cygnus Boosts the International Space Station for the First Time. NASA Can Now Potentially Keep the Station Aloft Without Russia’s Progress Spacecraft'
Read more »