After a record-shattering 22 months in space, the U.S. Air Force's mysterious X-37B space plane returned to Earth on Friday (Oct .17) in a smooth landing at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The 674-day mission launched in December 2012, but the purpose of the top secret spaceflight has been classified. The X-37B space plane landing was completely automatic and captured in images and video. You can see those amazing images here in this Space.com gallery. <\/p>\n
Here, the X-37B is serviced by a ground crew wearing protective suits after its successful landing on Oct. 17. The winged robotic spacecraft landed at 9:24 a.m. PDT at the Vandenberg Air Force Base to end its 22-month mission. The mission originally launched on Dec. 11, 2012. The U.S. Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office oversaw the mission, which marked the third X-37B flight since 2010. Credit: Boeing. <\/p>\n
The X-37B space plane is also called the Orbital Test Vehicle (or OTV) in Air Force parlance, with its latest mission known as OTV-3. Here, the spacecraft swoops down toward the runway at Vandenberg during its pinpoint landing. [See more X-37B photos from the OTV-3 mission.] <\/p>\n
The images here were provided to the Air Force by Boeing, which built the two X-37B space planes using its Phantom Works division. You can see some more amazing views of the landing here: <\/p>\n
Another view of the X-37B space plane landing on Oct. 17 as it approaches the Vandenberg runway. Credit: Boeing <\/p>\n
This view of the X-37B space plane landing is actually a still from an Air Force video of the landing captured on the runway at Vandenberg. The X-37B space plane that flew the OTV-3 mission was actually making its second spaceflight. The spacecraft launched on the first X-37B mission, called OTV-1. in 2010 and spent 225 days in space on that flight. This latest mission puts its time in space at 899 days. Credit: Boeing. <\/p>\n
Another view of the X-37B space plane landing. While the X-37B may look like a version of NASA's space shuttles, the military space plane is actually much smaller. Two X-37B vehicles could fit inside the 60-foot payload bay of a NASA shuttle. Credit: Boeing. <\/p>\n
The X-37B space plane zooms by a camera during the successful landing of the OTV-3 mission at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. A recovery team was standing ready to receive the spacecraft after its 674-day spaceflight. Credit: Boeing. <\/p>\n
Recovery crew members work on the X-37B space plane after the vehicle's successful landing on Oct. 17. The recovery crew is responsible for processing the X-37B vehicle to make sure the vehicle is safe to be towed back to its hangar for additional work. Credit: Boeing. <\/p>\n
Here, the recovery crew is working on the aft of the X-37B, which houses its tail fins, rocket engine and other vital systems. The X-37B spacecraft has its own small payload (which is about the size of a pickup truck bed) and a solar array to generate power during long space missions. The black tiles and panels along its nose, wings and belly serve as a protective heat shield during re-entry. Credit: Boeing. <\/p>\n
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Mysterious X-37B Military Space Plane's Landing in Photos<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" After a record-shattering 22 months in space, the U.S. Air Force's mysterious X-37B space plane returned to Earth on Friday (Oct .17) in a smooth landing at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California Continue reading