Military

Air Force’s secretive X-37 space plane marks a year in orbit

The Air Force’s top-secret space plane just celebrated its one-year anniversary of space flight.

As of May 20, the X-37B had been in orbit for one year, the third time the craft has accomplished such a goal.

The space plane launched on its first mission in April 2010, staying in orbit for 224 days. The second and third missions in 2011 and 2012, respectively, both lasted longer than a year.

You've reached your daily free article limit.

Subscribe and support our veteran writing staff to continue reading.

Get Full Ad-Free Access For Just $0.50/Week

Enjoy unlimited digital access to our Military Culture, Defense, and Foreign Policy coverage content and support a veteran owned business. Already a subscriber?

The Air Force’s top-secret space plane just celebrated its one-year anniversary of space flight.

As of May 20, the X-37B had been in orbit for one year, the third time the craft has accomplished such a goal.

The space plane launched on its first mission in April 2010, staying in orbit for 224 days. The second and third missions in 2011 and 2012, respectively, both lasted longer than a year.

Now the fourth mission has hit the one-year mark as well, with no announced plans to bring the plane back to Earth anytime soon.

Service officials told Air Force Times simply that they’re “excited for this fourth flight and look forward to learning from it.”

Read More- Air Force Times

Image courtesy of the US Air Force

About SOFREP News Team View All Posts

The SOFREP News Team is a collective of professional military journalists. Brandon Tyler Webb is the SOFREP News Team's Editor-in-Chief. Guy D. McCardle is the SOFREP News Team's Managing Editor. Brandon and Guy both manage the SOFREP News Team.

COMMENTS

You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article.

More from SOFREP

REAL EXPERTS.
REAL NEWS.

Join SOFREP for insider access and analysis.

TRY 14 DAYS FREE

Already a subscriber? Log In