The Pentagon Releases a Photo Taken by Its Top-Secret Space Plane for the First Time. However, the Most Surprising Thing Isn’t the Photo

The Pentagon has unexpectedly broken the secrecy surrounding the Space Force’s X-37B space plane. For the first time, authorities have revealed an image taken by the top-secret vehicle, which can operate for years without a crew.

The photo. The Space Force may have shared the image to show the breathtaking views of Earth captured from the aircraft. The photo was taken near the highest point (the apogee) of the elliptical trajectory where a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launched the X-37B space plane.

According to researcher Marco Langbroek, this surprisingly high, elliptical orbit measures around 115 x 21,865 miles. This could explain why the Space Force needed the Falcon Heavy’s full power for the launch.

Context. The X-37B is a small robotic spacecraft operated by the Air Force and Space Force. Its latest mission was launched in late 2023. Additionally, the top-secret space plane is designed to test new space exploration and defense technologies, making its missions largely classified.

The X-37B is currently on its seventh mission, focusing on experimenting with highly elliptical orbits and aerobraking maneuvers. These techniques enable the spacecraft to reposition itself using minimal fuel. The U.S. views this capability as essential due to increasing competition in space, particularly from China, which also possesses its own secret space plane.

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Why is this photo striking? There are images of Earth from tens of thousands of miles away before. However, this is the first time the Pentagon has released a snapshot captured by the X-37B itself while it’s still in space. Until now, the X-37B mission has been conducted in relative silence.

It’s important to note that the image isn’t recent. The JPEG metadata indicates it was taken on Jan. 30, 2024. Skeptic experts confirmed this date by comparing the cloud patterns visible in the photo with those recorded by weather satellites on that same day.

The X-37B’s purpose. In addition to demonstrating aerobraking, the X-37B has conducted tests involving plant seeds to study the effects of radiation on plant growth. It’s also deployed small payloads for later retrieval, potentially paving the way for satellite surveillance or repair applications.

Experts believe that the focus of Shenlong, China’s unmanned spacecraft, is also the capability of interacting with small satellites. Both the U.S. and China are researching the deployment and recovery of satellites on these extended missions, aiming to leverage these technologies in the future.

Images | Space Force

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