Top secret spaceplane makes not-so-subtle landing after 2 years in orbit
Fortunately, those are just men in suits, not aliens that hijacked the X-37B. Image: U.S. Air Force
When you hear about a top secret project being done by the United States military, one can’t help but think, “of course they have one.”
As expected, one of these secret projects just touched down on a Florida runway—albeit in a not-so-secret manner.
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Image: U.S. Air Force
The U.S. Air Force’s secret X-37B spaceplane made a landing on May 7 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. At the same time, it generated a sonic boom that woke up several people living near the area, Gizmodo reports.
The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) is unmanned and was previously in orbit for almost two years, or 718 days to be exact.
Despite being on its fourth mission, OTV’s mission protocols remain top secret information. Its last extended mission, the X-37B, was in orbit for 674 days, the report said.
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Image: U.S. Air Force
Image: U.S. Air Force
Secret missions have been flown since April 2010 and the OTV has accumulated 2,085 days in orbit.
“This mission once again set an on-orbit endurance record and marks the vehicle’s first landing in the state of Florida,” said program manager Lt. Col. Ron Fehlen.
This last photo makes you wonder if they’re done classifying the X-37B as a “top secret” project. Image: U.S. Air Force
Though the U.S. Air Force is still tight-lipped about what the X-37B does in all it’s time in space, they did provide enough photos of the OTV of its landing in Florida. KI
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