The X-37B space plane of the U.S. military launched on Thursday for a classified mission with a projected duration of a couple of years.

Similar to past missions, the reusable aircraft that resembles a miniature space shuttle transported confidential experiments. There are no personnel on board.

The spacecraft launched on SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at night, after facing a delay of over two weeks due to technical problems.

This was the seventh time an X-37B has flown, and it has been in orbit for over 10 years since its first mission in 2010.

The most recent flight, which was the longest one to date, lasted for 2.5 years before coming to a close on a Kennedy runway a year ago.

The duration of the orbital test vehicle’s flight and its contents, apart from a NASA experiment measuring radiation’s impact on materials, were not disclosed by Space Force officials.

The X-37B, constructed by Boeing, bears a striking resemblance to NASA’s decommissioned space shuttles. However, at a mere 29 feet (9 meters) in length, they are only one-fourth the size. Unlike the shuttles, no human astronauts are required for its operation as the X-37B is equipped with an automatic landing system.

The X-37Bs utilize a vertical takeoff similar to rockets, but have the ability to land horizontally like planes. They are specifically built to orbit at altitudes ranging from 150 miles to 500 miles (240 kilometers to 800 kilometers). Currently, two X-37Bs are stationed in a previous shuttle hangar at Kennedy Space Center.

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Source: wral.com