Elon Musk’s aerospace company, SpaceX, has successfully launched the U.S. military’s highly classified X-37B orbital test vehicle into space, marking another milestone in advanced space technology.
The launch occurred late Thursday night at 11:50 PM (0350 GMT) from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, according to SpaceX’s official livestream. A Falcon 9 rocket carried the mysterious spacecraft into orbit, lighting up the night sky as it ascended.
The U.S. Space Force confirmed that this mission, codenamed Mission 8, will focus on a wide range of cutting-edge experiments and technology demonstrations.
“These operational demonstrations and experiments comprise next-generation technologies, including laser communications and the highest-performing quantum inertial sensor ever tested in space,” the agency stated.
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The X-37B program has long attracted public interest due to its secretive nature and extended orbital missions. The unmanned spaceplane, approximately the size of a small bus, resembles NASA’s retired space shuttles but operates autonomously. It measures 30 feet in length with a 15-foot wingspan and is powered by solar panels.
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According to officials, Mission 8 aims to improve resilience, efficiency, and security of U.S. space-based communications architectures, ensuring military advantage in the evolving domain of space warfare. While details of the mission remain classified, experts speculate that it could involve advanced surveillance capabilities and space-based weapons testing.
The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle, designed by Boeing for the U.S. Air Force, has been in operation since 2010 and has completed multiple long-duration missions, some lasting over 700 days in orbit. Previous missions also included experiments for NASA.
This latest launch underscores the growing role of private companies like SpaceX in U.S. defense and space exploration initiatives, combining commercial innovation with military objectives.
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