Archive · 20 Aug 2025
US Space Force Prepares for Classified Military Spaceplane Launch
The US Space Force is getting ready to send up a secret space robot plane called the X-37B.
It's like a mini space shuttle that can fly itself and come back to Earth.
This plane is going up for its eighth trip, launching on August 21.
No one knows exactly what it will do in space, but it's probably testing out new tech and doing some experiments.
It will be launched by a rocket, and it can land on its own like an airplane.
They are interested in things like new ways to talk through lasers.
It has been around since 2010.
US Space Force is set to launch its X-37B spaceplane for its eighth mission.
The launch is scheduled for Wednesday, August 21, from Kennedy Space Center.
The X-37B is an autonomous, reusable spacecraft used for technology testing and experiments.
The mission's duration and specific activities are undisclosed.
The spaceplane will use a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket for launch and can land on either coast.
- Who
- The US Space Force and Boeing are involved, the X-37B is manufactured by Boeing and launched by SpaceX.
- What
- The US Space Force is launching the X-37B spaceplane for its eighth mission to test new technologies and conduct experiments.
- When
- The launch window falls between 11:40 p.m. ET on Thursday and 5:11 a.m. ET on Friday, August 21.
- Where
- Kennedy Space Center.
- Why
- To test new technology and conduct experiments in space.
- Spacecraft
- X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle
- Launch Date
- August 21
- Launch Location
- Kennedy Space Center
- Rocket
- SpaceX Falcon 9
- Manufacturer
- Boeing
- Mission Purpose
- Technology testing and experiments
- First Launch
- 2010
- Longest Mission
- 908 days