What is the X-37B used for?

The primary objectives of the X-37B are twofold; reusable spacecraft technologies for America’s future in space and operating experiments which can be returned to, and examined, on Earth. The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle is the newest and most advanced re-entry spacecraft.

Where is the X-37B?

The X-37B program is now run by the Air Force’s Rapid Capabilities Office, with mission control for orbital flights based at the 3rd Space Experimentation Squadron at Schriever Air Force Base in Colorado. The space planes are built by Boeing’s Phantom Works division.

Is X-37B manned?

An unmanned spaceplane can be far smaller than a manned one, requiring less thrust and a smaller rocket to put it into space. Without a human crew, an unmanned spaceplane could spend weeks, months, or even years in low earth orbit—as long as the mission requires—before returning to Earth.

How fast is the X-37B?

28,040 km/h
Boeing X-37/Max speed

What kind of spacecraft is the Boeing X-37?

The Boeing X-37, also known as the Orbital Test Vehicle ( OTV ), is a reusable robotic spacecraft. It is boosted into space by a launch vehicle, then re-enters Earth’s atmosphere and lands as a spaceplane.

When was the Boeing X-37 transferred to DARPA?

The X-37 was originally designed to be carried into orbit in the cargo bay of the Space Shuttle, but underwent redesign for launch on a Delta IV or comparable rocket after it was determined that a shuttle flight would be uneconomical. The X-37 was transferred from NASA to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) on 13 September 2004.

Is the X-37B a re-entry vehicle?

The X-37B is one of the world’s newest and most advanced re-entry spacecraft, designed to operate in low-earth orbit, 150 to 500 miles above the Earth. The vehicle is the first since the Space Shuttle with the ability to return experiments to Earth for further inspection and analysis.

How big is the payload bay on the X-37B?

The X-37B’s payload bay (the area in which the cargo is packed) measures 7 feet long by 4 feet wide (2.1 by 1.2 m) — about the size of a pickup truck bed. Just what the X-37B carries in there is unclear, however.