SpaceX is gearing up for another milestone: this Thursday at 11:50 p.m. ET, the Falcon 9 rocket will launch the U.S. Space Force's secretive X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle on its eighth mission.
About the size of a small bus and sporting a 4.6-meter wingspan, the X-37B looks like a mini space shuttle powered by solar panels. Since 2010 it has served as an autonomous lab, carrying out everything from NASA experiments to re-entry technology tests.
For Mission 8, the U.S. Space Force says the drone will host next-generation technologies, including laser communications and the highest-performing quantum inertial sensor ever tested in orbit. These demos aim to boost the resilience, efficiency and security of space-based communications worldwide.
Originally designed and built by Boeing for the U.S. Air Force, with United Launch Alliance handling the first launches, the X-37B now gets a lift from SpaceX's reusable Falcon 9. This partnership highlights a shift toward more sustainable and cost-effective access to space.
Whether you're a tech enthusiast tracking the latest in aerospace innovation or a young global citizen inspired by frontier-pushing R&D, Thursday's launch is your front-row ticket to the next era of space exploration and connectivity.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
