The Us S Unmanned Solar Powered Space Plane Returns After 908 Days

The solar vehicle, which looks like a miniature space shuttle, landed at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.  His previous mission lasted 780 days.
“Since the X-37B’s first launch in 2010, it has broken records and provided our nation with an unrivaled ability to rapidly test and integrate new space technologies,” said Jim Chilton, senior vice president of Boeing, its manufacturer.
For the first time, the spaceplane housed a service module that conducted experiments for the Naval Research Laboratory, the US Air Force Academy and others.  The module was separated from the vehicle before it left orbit to ensure a safe landing.
Among the experiments was a satellite called FalconSat-8 that was designed and built by academy cadets in collaboration with the Air Force Research Laboratory.  It was launched in October 2021 and is still in orbit.
Another experiment assessed the effects of long-term field exposure on seeds.
“This mission underscores the Space Force’s focus on cooperating in space exploration and expanding low-cost access to space for our partners inside and outside the Department of the Air Force,” said Gen. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations.
The X-37Be has now flown over 1.3 billion miles and spent a total of 3,774 days in space.

title: “The Us S Unmanned Solar Powered Space Plane Returns After 908 Days " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-20” author: “Pedro Ross”

The solar vehicle, which looks like a miniature space shuttle, landed at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.  His previous mission lasted 780 days.
“Since the X-37B’s first launch in 2010, it has broken records and provided our nation with an unrivaled ability to rapidly test and integrate new space technologies,” said Jim Chilton, senior vice president of Boeing, its manufacturer.
For the first time, the spaceplane housed a service module that conducted experiments for the Naval Research Laboratory, the US Air Force Academy and others.  The module was separated from the vehicle before it left orbit to ensure a safe landing.
Among the experiments was a satellite called FalconSat-8 that was designed and built by academy cadets in collaboration with the Air Force Research Laboratory.  It was launched in October 2021 and is still in orbit.
Another experiment assessed the effects of long-term field exposure on seeds.
“This mission underscores the Space Force’s focus on cooperating in space exploration and expanding low-cost access to space for our partners inside and outside the Department of the Air Force,” said Gen. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations.
The X-37Be has now flown over 1.3 billion miles and spent a total of 3,774 days in space.