US Space Plane X-37B Unveils New Atmospheric DragManeuver, Reducing Mystery
Washington, D.C. – The US military’s highly secretive X-37B space plane, often dubbed the space fighter, has shed some of its veil of mystery. In a rare publicdisclosure, Boeing, the manufacturer of the X-37B, and the US Space Force revealed details about the spacecraft’s recent operations, including a novelmaneuver known as atmospheric drag.
Last month, the companies announced that the X-37B would soon begin a series of atmospheric drag maneuvers to lower its orbit and safely dispose of unnecessary hardware before returning to Earth. Now,Boeing has released a video explaining the process and its significance.
According to a Boeing representative featured in the video, the maneuver allows the company to adjust the X-37B’s altitude and safely dispose of the servicemodule components in accordance with recognized space debris reduction standards.
Traditionally, spacecraft use onboard thrusters to perform orbital adjustments, requiring multiple firings. This process consumes propellant, limiting the number of adjustments a spacecraft can make before needing refueling or being de-orbited.
Atmospheric drag, however, leverages the frictionof Earth’s atmosphere to guide the spacecraft into a new orbit. When we perform atmospheric drag, we’re effectively using the drag of the atmosphere to gradually lower the apogee (highest point of the orbit) until the spacecraft is in the orbit we want it to be in, explained a Boeing engineer in the video.This saves a lot of propellant, and that’s why we do atmospheric drag.
The video showcases the X-37B, resembling a miniature aircraft, adjusting its orientation with its flat belly facing forward and the nose pointed away from Earth. The spacecraft’s wider, flatter underside glows orange as it encountersatmospheric friction.
This innovative maneuver has garnered praise from US Space Force leadership. This is the first time the X-37B has performed this type of operation, and it represents a significant milestone for the US Space Force as we seek to expand our capabilities and expertise in this challenging domain, stated Chance Saltzman,the Space Force’s Chief of Space Operations, in a statement.
The X-37B, launched atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, has been shrouded in secrecy throughout its missions. While details remain limited, the current mission is known to be testing the effects of space radiation and space domain awarenesstechnology. This technology could help the US Space Force track orbital situations and monitor the activities of other spacecraft in Earth’s orbit.
The X-37B’s recent disclosure of its atmospheric drag maneuver marks a step towards increased transparency in the US military’s space operations. This development could pave the way fora deeper understanding of the X-37B’s capabilities and its role in the future of space exploration.
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