Recovery crew members process the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle at Vandenberg Air Force Base after completing 674 days in space. A total of three X-37B missions have been completed, totaling 1,367 days on orbit. Photo: Boeing Watch cool landing video below <\/p>\n
The US Air Forces unmanned, X-37B military space plane made an autonomous runway landing on Friday, Oct. 17, at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., concluding an orbital test flight nearly two years in duration on a record breaking mission whose goals are shrouded in secrecy. <\/p>\n
The Boeing-built X-37B, also known as the Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV), successfully fired its baking thrusters, plunged through the atmosphere, endured scorching re-entry heating and safely rolled to touch down on Vandenberg Air Force Base at 9:24 a.m. PDT Friday, concluding a clandestine 674-day experimental test mission for the U.S. Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office. <\/p>\n
This was the third flight of an X-37B OTV vehicle on a mission known as OTV-3. <\/p>\n
Im extremely proud of our team for coming together to execute this third safe and successful landing, said Col Keith Balts, 30th Space Wing commander, in a statement. <\/p>\n
Everyone from our on console space operators to our airfield managers and civil engineers take pride in this unique mission and exemplify excellence during its execution. <\/p>\n
Nothing is known about the flights objectives or accomplishments beyond testing the vehicle itself. <\/p>\n
The OTV is somewhat like a miniature version of NASAs space shuttles. Boeing has built two OTV vehicles. <\/p>\n
The reusable space plane is designed to be launched like a satellite and land on a runway like an airplane and a NASA space shuttle. The X-37B is one of the newest and most advanced reentry spacecraft. <\/p>\n
A third mission of the Boeing-built X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle was completed on Oct. 17, 2014, when it landed and was recovered at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif, following a successful 674-day space mission. Photo: Boeing <\/p>\n
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Mysterious Military X-37B Space plane Lands after Nearly Two Years in Orbit Video<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Recovery crew members process the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle at Vandenberg Air Force Base after completing 674 days in space. A total of three X-37B missions have been completed, totaling 1,367 days on orbit. Continue reading