All articles tagged with #x 37b
China’s secretive space plane Shendong has launched for a fourth time to conduct tests for reusable spacecraft, potentially releasing small objects in orbit, while the U.S. Space Force’s long-running X-37B program remains opaque about its goals. The two programs have sparked speculation about rendezvous proximity operations and a quiet race for orbital dominance, though concrete mission details are not disclosed.
China has launched its fourth Shendong space plane from Jiuquan to test reusable spacecraft tech, joining the U.S. X-37B in orbit with undisclosed objectives; past flights have released small objects and sparked speculation about rendezvous proximity operations and broader space capabilities under the goal of peaceful space use.
China’s Shenlong, a robotic reusable space plane, launched its fourth orbital mission from Jiuquan on Feb. 6. Details remain scarce, but analysts say the mission likely tests technologies for future reusable space access and has conducted rendezvous/proximity operations with deployed satellites, a capability likened to the U.S. X-37B. Experts caution about the anti-satellite implications, though the exact payloads and objectives are not disclosed.
NASA's X-37B spaceplane's eighth mission will test revolutionary laser communication technology and quantum inertial sensors, aiming to enhance secure satellite operations and develop alternatives to GPS, supported by a $1 billion congressional investment, signaling a strategic focus on advanced space capabilities.
The US military's X-37B spaceplane completed its longest mission of 908 days, conducting advanced experiments including space-based solar power transmission, supporting educational initiatives, and testing new space technologies, highlighting its strategic role in national security and scientific research.
Boeing's stock (NYSE:BA) increased following the successful launch of the X-37B spaceplane, indicating positive market sentiment related to aerospace advancements.
SpaceX successfully launched the U.S. Space Force's X-37B space plane on August 21, 2025, from Kennedy Space Center using a Falcon 9 rocket, capturing stunning photos of the event, including the rocket's colorful exhaust plume and successful booster landing, while the X-37B conducts classified experiments in low Earth orbit.
The US military's X-37B spaceplane has launched on its eighth mission, carrying a quantum GPS alternative that uses atom interferometry to measure position precisely, potentially allowing navigation without traditional satellite systems. This technology, tested in 2025, could enhance future spacecraft and aircraft navigation, raising strategic concerns for China and the US about satellite dependency in warfare.
SpaceX launched the USSF-36 mission with the X-37B spaceplane onboard, marking its eighth flight, which features demonstrations of laser communication and quantum navigation technologies to enhance space communication resilience and navigation capabilities in GPS-denied environments.
A U.S. military mini shuttle launched by SpaceX from Cape Canaveral is conducting classified experiments in space, including testing laser communications and navigation without GPS, marking the eighth flight of the X-37B program with mission durations ranging from months to over a year.
SpaceX successfully launched the US military's classified X-37B spaceplane into orbit, marking its eighth mission. The autonomous spacecraft, built by Boeing, tests advanced technologies like laser communications and quantum sensors, with mission duration and objectives kept largely undisclosed.
SpaceX successfully launched the U.S. Space Force's X-37B space plane on its eighth mission, carrying advanced tech like laser communications and quantum sensors to test in orbit, with many details kept classified.
SpaceX is launching the US Space Force's classified X-37B space plane on a Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center, with the mission focusing on advanced laser communication and quantum inertial sensor technology demonstrations, scheduled for August 21-22, 2023.
The US Space Force's X-37B spaceplane is preparing for its eighth mission, continuing its secretive operations to test new technologies in space, though its future and role in broader defense initiatives remain uncertain amid questions about its cost-effectiveness and strategic importance.
The U.S. Space Force is launching the uncrewed Boeing X-37B spaceplane on its eighth mission via a late-night SpaceX Falcon 9 from Kennedy Space Center, with potential sonic booms in Central Florida; the mission will test advanced laser communications and quantum inertial sensors, enhancing space technology and resilience.