X-37B Spaceplane Completes 434-Day Mission with Advanced Orbital Maneuvers

The U.S. Space Force's unmanned spaceplane demonstrated innovative aerobraking techniques and conducted space domain awareness experiments during its seventh mission.

The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle-7 landed at Vandenberg Space Force Base on March 7, 2025, after a record 434 days in orbit.
The mission marked the first time the spaceplane launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket and operated in a highly elliptical orbit.
A key achievement was the successful execution of aerobraking maneuvers, which used atmospheric drag to change orbits while conserving fuel.
The spacecraft tested space domain awareness technologies to enhance understanding of the increasingly congested and contested orbital environment.
Built by Boeing, the reusable X-37B program continues to explore advanced space operations and serves as a platform for both military and civilian experiments.

Interesting Engineering