"SpaceX and Pentagon Collaborate for Secretive X-37B Space Plane Launch"

The Pentagon's secretive and mysterious spacecraft, the X-37B, is set to launch on its seventh mission. The drone, which flies without a crew, will be launched for the first time on SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket, indicating a potential higher orbit. The mission's objectives include testing and experimentation in new orbital regimes and future space domain awareness technologies. The X-37B has previously been used to test cutting-edge technologies and deploy small satellites. While its exact purpose remains unknown, the Pentagon emphasizes its importance. The mission will also conduct an experiment for NASA involving exposing plant seeds to the radiation environment of long-duration spaceflight. China has a similar secretive spaceplane, the Shenlong, inspired by the X-37B.