A U.S. military mini shuttle successfully launched on Thursday night to carry out classified experiments in space. The launch took place at Cape Canaveral, Florida, with SpaceX facilitating the operation. This marks the eighth mission for the X-37B, an autonomous space plane.
The mission aims to test new laser communication technologies and ensure safe navigation without the reliance on GPS, as announced by the U.S. Space Force. While the exact duration of this flight remains uncertain, the previous X-37B mission circled the Earth for over a year before returning in March. Historically, these missions can last anywhere from several months to a few years.
These reusable space planes, manufactured by Boeing, have been in operation since their debut in 2010. The X-37B measures 29 feet long and has a wingspan of nearly 15 feet.
The advancements made through the X-37B missions highlight the importance of U.S. leadership in space exploration and technology development.
