Mysterious Spacecraft Has Been Orbiting Earth During Past 720 Days, and Only the US Air Force Knows Why

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A mysterious spacecraft has been orbiting the Earth for the past 720 days…

And only the US Air Force knows why.

A mysterious spacecraft has been orbiting the Earth for the past 720 days, and only the US Air Force knows why.
A mysterious spacecraft has been orbiting the Earth for the past 720 days, and only the US Air Force knows why. Picture: defense.org

This is the fifth mission of the X-37B space plane, an uncrewed and solar-powered military drone. The Orbital Test Vehicle 5 (OTV-5) mission launched way back on September 7, 2017, with the help of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

On the fourth mission – Orbital Test Vehicle 4 (OTV-4) – it remained in orbit for 717 days, 20 hours, and 42 minutes, which it has now surpassed, with no details yet on when the mission may end.

The mission objectives of the space plane have remained a closely guarded secret.

All what we got from the Air Force is this mager statement: “The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle, or OTV, is an experimental test program to demonstrate technologies for a reliable, reusable, unmanned space test platform for the US Air Force.

The primary objectives of the X-37B are twofold; reusable spacecraft technologies for America’s future in space and operating experiments which can be returned to, and examined, on Earth.

Technologies being tested in the program include advanced guidance, navigation and control, thermal protection systems, avionics, high-temperature structures and seals, conformal reusable insulation, lightweight electromechanical flight systems, advanced propulsion systems, advanced materials and autonomous orbital flight, reentry and landing.

I call this very vague and not conclusive! What is this strange OTV? A spy plane? Is the Air Force trying to put spy satellites into orbit or is it testing out an EmDrive in space.

Well, for now, you’ll either have to accept the official explanation, or just get comfortable with the knowledge that there’s a mysterious space drone flying high above our heads, and only the US military knows why.

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