US launches X-37B space plane for scientific experiments
The US Space Force has launched the X-37B space plane, manufactured by Boeing, for a new mission expected to last at least several years.
AA
According to a statement on the "Space.com" website, the unmanned space plane was launched into space from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, using a Falcon Heavy rocket produced by SpaceX.
The statement noted that the X-37B space plane, manufactured by the US company Boeing, was sent into space for a new mission expected to last at least several years, and that the craft will conduct scientific experiments in Earth's orbit.
The US Air Force and the subsequently established Space Force have previously conducted 6 space missions with X-37B aircraft.
In this context, the first aircraft was launched into space in April 2010 and completed its orbital mission in 224 days.
The second aircraft, launched in March 2011, remained in orbit for 468 days; the third, launched in December 2012, for 674 days; the fourth, launched in May 2015, for 718 days; and the fifth, launched in September 2017, for 780 days.
Finally, the sixth aircraft, launched in May 2020, landed at the Kennedy Space Center in November 2022 after remaining in orbit for exactly 908 days. This was recorded as the longest mission ever performed by unmanned space planes.