US military spaceplane poised for 7th launch, first atop SpaceX Falcon Heavy
The U.S. military's secretive X-37B robot spaceplane is set for its seventh mission to orbit, this time launching atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket capable of reaching higher altitudes. The launch was scheduled for Monday night from NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
Launch Details
The U.S. military's X-37B spaceplane is set to launch on its seventh mission to orbit from Florida. This time, it will be the first launch atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, which can reach higher altitudes than previous launches.
The Falcon Heavy rocket is composed of three reusable rocket cores and will blast off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral during a 10-minute nighttime launch window.
The launch window is scheduled to open at 8:14 p.m. EST, with improved forecasts indicating a 70% chance of favorable weather conditions.
Mission Details
The mission details of the X-37B spaceplane's seventh launch remain secretive, as disclosed by the Defense Department. The mission is part of the National Security Space Launch program and is conducted by the U.S. Air Force and Space Force.
The X-37B, built by Boeing, is roughly the size of a small bus and resembles a miniature space shuttle. It is capable of deploying various payloads and conducting technology experiments during long-duration orbital flights.
This particular mission will mark the first time the X-37B launches on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. The Falcon Heavy has the capability to carry heavier payloads to higher altitudes, potentially reaching geosynchronous orbit, which is over 22,000 miles above Earth.
Future of the X-37B
The X-37B spaceplane has been increasing its time in space with each successive mission. The previous mission lasted over two years before returning in November 2022.
The latest mission aboard the Falcon Heavy rocket signifies a possible shift in capabilities for the X-37B. The Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office stated that the mission will involve tests of new orbital regimes and future space domain awareness technologies.
Additionally, the X-37B is carrying a NASA experiment to study the effects of long-term radiation exposure on plant seeds in space. The duration of the mission has not been disclosed but is expected to be longer than previous missions.
