The Pentagon's enigmatic X-37B spacecraft, often likened to a miniature space shuttle, is poised for another secretive mission as it gears up for a launch scheduled at 8:14 pm Eastern time today.
The unmanned drone, with its distinctive bulldog-like nose and compact wings, has fueled speculation and controversy regarding its true purpose and capabilities, as per Earth.
Pentagon X-37B Launch Delay
Originally slated for a Sunday night launch from Cape Canaveral, the mission faced delays due to powerful storms sweeping across the East Coast. With adverse weather conditions, the Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron estimated a mere 40 percent chance of a successful launch on Sunday night. However, SpaceX, led by entrepreneur Elon Musk, later asserted a more favorable 70 percent chance of success by Monday night.
The X-37B is set to launch via a Falcon Heavy rocket, a decision attributed to the aircraft's speculated mission in a higher orbit than previous endeavors. Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Fritschen, the X-37B program director, expressed enthusiasm about expanding the spacecraft's capabilities through cutting-edge experiments for the Department of the Air Force and its partners.
General Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations, shed light on the upcoming mission, named OTV-7, emphasizing its role in carrying "groundbreaking" experiments to enhance the United States' space operations. The mission is expected to include experiments related to future space domain awareness technologies, potentially involving monitoring satellites from adversary nations for security threats.
One of the experiments highlighted involves exposing plant seeds to the harsh radiation environment of long-duration space flight, conducted in collaboration with NASA. The X-37 B's history includes testing various technologies, such as a solar panel designed to convert solar energy into microwaves, hinting at the Pentagon's exploration of innovative space-related technologies, according to New York Post.
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X-37B's Decade in Orbit, Secrets, and Speculation
Despite the aircraft's prolonged time in orbit, accumulating over ten years of space experience, its true nature and objectives remain veiled in secrecy. The Secure World Foundation points out the US government's paradoxical stance of celebrating the program's success while withholding crucial information, even regarding the budget.
Brian Weeden, the director of program planning at the Secure World Foundation, emphasizes that much speculation about the X-37B may be inaccurate, attributing its reputation to the mystique surrounding its covert activities.
Secure World Foundation suggests that the spacecraft is likely focused on testing reusable space launch vehicle technologies and conducting on-orbit trials of new sensor technologies and satellite hardware.
China has expressed skepticism about the X-37B, labeling it as an example of the U.S. weaponizing space. In response, China has developed its own secretive reusable spaceplane, the Shenlong, further escalating the international competition in space capabilities.
As the X-37B embarks on another undisclosed mission, it continues to captivate global attention, raising questions about its true purpose and the strategic significance of its expanded presence in space. The Pentagon remains tight-lipped, adding to the allure of this mysterious spacecraft, The Washington Post reported.
