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- The Falcon Heavy, the world’s most powerful operational rocket, blasted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in a dazzling display of fire and smoke.
- The launch was delayed for more than two weeks due to bad weather and technical problems, but eventually went ahead after a countdown and smooth liftoff.
- The X-37B, an unmanned, reusable spacecraft that looks like a small space shuttle, is operated by the U.S. Space Force for classified missions that test new technologies and conduct experiments in orbit.
- The X-37B has flown six previous missions since 2010, each lasting longer than the previous mission. The last mission, which ended in October 2021, set a record 908 days in space.
- The current X-37B mission, called OTV-7, is the first to be launched on a Falcon Heavy rocket, which has three times the thrust of the Falcon 9 rocket that carried the previous mission.
- The Falcon Heavy rocket could enable the X-37B to reach a higher orbit than before, possibly even geosynchronous orbit, where satellites stay above the same point on Earth. The X-37B previously flew in low Earth orbit, at altitudes up to 1,200 miles (2,000 km).
The Big Picture
The X-37B, a vehicle built by Boeing that resembles a miniature space shuttle, was the cornerstone of the U.S. military’s foray into reusable space technology. Its previous missions, especially in low Earth orbit, have been shrouded in secrecy, with an emphasis on testing. New technologies and various experiments. The use of SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket for this mission highlights the critical collaboration between the U.S. military and the private space industry, and showcases significant advances in rocket technology and payload delivery.
why does it matter
The recent X-37B mission underscores the growing strategic importance of space for national security and technological advancement. Its ability to reach higher orbits and potentially venture closer to the moon represents a major leap in capabilities, reflecting the increasingly intense space race, especially in the context of the rivalry between the United States and China. This mission could pave the way for new forms of space surveillance, communications and other covert operations.
what are they saying
- The Pentagon has remained tight-lipped about the specific goals of the latest X-37B mission, saying only that it will test “new orbital systems and future space domain awareness technologies.”
- “Maybe this thing is heading towards the moon and dropping a payload,” said Bob Hall, director of the space traffic control company COMSPOC, which analyzes the trajectories of orbiting objects. The closer a spacecraft gets to the Moon, the more difficult it is to return safely to Earth.
- There was no official word on whether the X-37B reached its intended initial orbit after launch.
- Industry analysts and space enthusiasts speculate that the spacecraft may be headed into a highly elliptical orbit or even toward the moon, an area of increasing interest to the Pentagon.
- The mission also includes a NASA experiment to study the effects of space radiation on plant seeds, indicating a broader scope of research that could benefit a future long-duration space mission.
What to watch out for
- As the X-37B embarks on its final flight, the mission’s secrecy and the potential for higher-orbit operations add a new dimension to space exploration and military capabilities. As the United States and China develop their own space technologies, the X-37B mission could be a critical step in defining the future dynamics of space exploration and security.
- China’s secret Shenlong ship was launched into space on December 14 by a Long March 2F rocket, a less powerful launch system than SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy that is believed to be limited to delivering payloads to low Earth orbit.
- However, Space Force Gen. B. Chance Saltzman told reporters at an industry conference earlier this month that he expected China to launch the Shenlong at about the same time as the X-37B flight in what he suggested was a competitive move.
- “These are two of the most closely monitored objects in orbit while they are in orbit,” Saltzman said, according to notes published in the journal Air & Air. “It is probably not a coincidence that they are trying to match us in timing and sequence.” Space Forces Magazine.
- The duration and results of this mission will be closely monitored by governments and space agencies around the world, eager to understand the evolving landscape of space operations and technology.
(With inputs from agencies)
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