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The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) has been shrouded in mystery since its maiden flight in 2011. Designed by Boeing and operated by the U.S. Space Force (USSF), this remotely operated, reusable space plane is designed to operate in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO), 240 to 800 km (150 to 500 mi) above the Earth, and test reusable vehicle technologies that support long-term space objectives. On December 29th, 2023, the X-37B began its seventh mission (OTV-7) and has reportedly been conducting experiments on the effects of space radiation and testing Space Domain Awareness (SDA) technologies.<\/p>\n
As part of this mission, the X-37B will soon begin executing a series of novel maneuvers to change its orbit around Earth. These maneuvers will consist of the spacecraft brushing against Earth\u2019s upper atmosphere to shed speed and lower its orbit without expending much fuel\u2014a technique known as \u201caerobraking.\u201d This is the first time the X-37B has performed such a maneuver, which will help it evade detection by potentially hostile nations and perform undetected low passes over Earth during future missions.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n According to a statement by the USSF, this latest maneuver leverages six successful missions in LEO and decades of lessons learned from missions to the Moon and Mars. In 1997, the Mars Global Surveyor<\/em> (MGS) orbiter used its solar panels as \u201cwings\u201d to control its passage through Mars\u2019 tenuous upper atmosphere and lower its orbit over several months. More recently, aerobraking has been used by the Mars Odyssey<\/em> in 2001, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter<\/em> in 2006, and the ESA\u2019s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter<\/em> in 2017-2018.<\/p>\n \u201cThis novel and efficient series of maneuvers demonstrates the Space Force\u2019s commitment to achieving groundbreaking innovation as it conducts national security missions in space,\u201d said Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall. \u201cThis first-of-a-kind maneuver from the X-37B is an incredibly important milestone for the United States Space Force as we seek to expand our aptitude and ability to perform in this challenging domain,\u201d added Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman. \u201cThe success is a testament to the dedication and perseverance of the team.\u201d<\/p>\n Beyond these experiments, very little is known about the X-37B\u2019s capabilities and purpose. However, during the Aspen Security Forum in 2019, former U.S. Air Force (USAF) Secretary Heather Wilson explained how the X-37B capabilities allow it to avoid detection, saying:<\/p>\n \u201c[The X-37B is] fascinating [because it] can do an orbit that looks like an egg and, when it\u2019s close to the Earth, it\u2019s close enough to the atmosphere to turn where it is. Which means our adversaries don\u2019t know \u2013 and that happens on the far side of the Earth from our adversaries \u2013 where it\u2019s going to come up next. And we know that that drives them nuts. And I\u2019m really glad about that.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n As Jonathan McDowell \u2013 an astronomer and astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics \u2013 told Military.com in an interview at the time: <\/p>\n \u201c[Wilson\u2019s comments may shed light on] a previously secret orbit-related capability. The dip into the atmosphere causes a change in the timing of when it next comes overhead. So [trackers\u2019] predictions are off, and [they] have to search for it all over again. Even a timing change makes more work for [adversaries] than just being able to use the existing orbital prediction.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \n\n
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