Space Force’s Secretive X-37B Plane Returns To Earth

The U.S. Space Force’s secretive X-37B space plane has returned to Earth after completing a record-breaking 434-day mission, marking another major milestone for the cutting-edge program.

The unmanned, solar-powered Boeing-built spacecraft touched down at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 2:22 a.m. EST on March 7, successfully wrapping up its seventh mission. This flight, officially named OTV-7, introduced new experimental maneuvers and expanded the spacecraft’s capabilities.

Pioneering New Spaceflight Techniques

Launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on December 28, 2023, the X-37B was placed into a highly elliptical orbit—a first for the program. While much of the mission remains classified, Space Force confirmed that it conducted “space domain awareness” experiments aimed at improving the military’s ability to track objects and monitor the space environment.

One of the most significant achievements was the successful execution of a new aerobraking maneuver. This technique allowed the X-37B to use Earth’s atmosphere to slow down and adjust its orbit with minimal fuel consumption—a capability that could prove crucial for future space operations.

“Mission 7 broke new ground by showcasing the X-37B’s ability to flexibly accomplish test and experimentation objectives across orbital regimes,” said Gen. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations for the U.S. Space Force.

A Step Toward the Future of Space Operations

After completing its aerobraking tests, the X-37B deorbited and safely landed back on Earth, marking another successful mission for the program.

“This operation in a new orbital regime, combined with its aerobraking maneuver and space domain awareness testing, has written an exciting new chapter in the X-37B program,” said Blaine Stewart, X-37B Program Director.

Despite its impressive 434-day journey, this mission was not the longest for the X-37B—that record belongs to the OTV-6 mission, which spent 908 days in orbit between 2020 and 2022. However, OTV-7 introduced new experimental capabilities that demonstrate the growing importance of reusable, autonomous spacecraft in modern space operations.

With two X-37B vehicles in operation, the U.S. Space Force continues to push the boundaries of spaceflight, testing new technologies that could shape the future of military and commercial space missions.