US Space Force Shares Rare Image from Secretive X-37B Space Plane

The X-37B, on its seventh mission, conducted groundbreaking orbital maneuvers and captured a view of Earth from space.

The US Space Force released the first public image taken by the X-37B space plane during its current mission, showing Earth from orbit in 2024.
The X-37B, a reusable orbital test vehicle, launched on its seventh mission in December 2023 aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.
The spacecraft successfully performed a first-of-its-kind aerobraking maneuver, using Earth's atmosphere to alter its orbit while conserving fuel.
The mission includes experiments on space domain technologies, radiation effects, and other classified objectives, continuing its role in advancing reusable space technology.
Developed by Boeing, the X-37B has logged over 4,000 cumulative days in space across its missions, with its purposes largely classified but linked to national security and technological innovation.