An extremely rare image taken from a top-secret spacecraft while in Earth orbit has been shared online, giving space buffs an insight into the mysterious mission.
Known as the X-37B spacecraft, the ship has been on a total of seven missions over the course of the last 15 years.
It’s currently on its seventh mission (known as OV-7) which begun in 2023. The Boeing aircraft is boosted into space by another ship, and was assisted on its current mission by a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.
Over the last decade-and-a-half, the Earth’s been orbited by X-37B over 4,000 days, IFL Science reports — yet we’ve seldom seen photos from such missions.
The United States Space Force is in charge of X-37B (Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
The missions the aircraft goes on largely remain classified, but US Space Force recently treated space fans to a photograph and brief explanation as to what X-37B has been up to.
In a photo shared to Twitter on February 21, Space Force said: “An X-37B onboard camera, used to ensure the health and safety of the vehicle, captures an image of Earth while conducting experiments in HEO [Highly Elliptical Orbit] in 2024.”
Space Foundation says of HEO: “An HEO is oblong, with one end nearer the Earth and other more distant. Satellites in HEO are suited for communications, satellite radio, remote sensing and other applications.”
An X-37B onboard camera, used to ensure the health and safety of the vehicle, captures an image of Earth while conducting experiments in HEO in 2024.The X-37B executed a series of first-of-kind maneuvers, called aerobraking, to safely change its orbit using minimal fuel.
Space Force’s tweet continued: “The X-37B executed a series of first-of-kind maneuvers, called aerobraking, to safely change its orbit using minimal fuel.”
In the photograph, a glimpse of the spacecraft is shown while an impressive shot of Earth is also seen.
People have since shared their thoughts on the rare image, with many expressing their awe.
“Super cool,” wrote one Twitter user. Another penned: “Amazing picture.”
Urging Space Force to share additional snaps, another budding astronomer said: “More of this please!!”
A different person branded the photo as ‘magnificent’.
An artist impression of the aircraft performing the aerobraking manoeuvre (Boeing Space)
In October 2024, Space Force announced its plans to have X-37B trial aerobraking.
It said in a statement at the time: “The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV-7) will begin executing a series of novel maneuvers, called aerobraking, to change its orbit around Earth and safely dispose of its service module components in accordance with recognized standards for space debris mitigation.”
Space Force went on: “The use of the aerobraking maneuver- a series of passes using the drag of Earth’s atmosphere- enables the spacecraft to change orbits while expending minimal fuel.
“Once the aerobrake maneuver is complete, the X-37B will resume its test and experimentation objectives until they are accomplished, at which time the vehicle will de-orbit and execute a safe return as it has during its six previous missions.”
