US’ X-37B secret space plane goes on 4th mission
Spacecraft is capable of remaining in space for almost two years
Washington: The X-37B space plane, one of the most mysterious craft to go into orbit ever, is a secretive, experimental programme run by the US Air Force.The spacecraft is capable of remaining in space for almost two years, The Daily Mail reported. United Launch Alliance’s 206ft Atlas V rocket launched the space plane for a fourth time from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral on Wednesday. This mystery test vehicle — essentially a technology test bed — is designed to orbit the Earth and then land like one of Nasa’s old shuttles. It is operated robotically, without anyone on board, and is reusable.
The experts have said that the space plane is 29ft long — about one-fourth the size of a Nasa shuttle.The longest X-37B flight lasted about 675 days; touchdown was last October. However, experts have not yet been able to confirm that for how long the space plane will stay up. Nasa has a materials experiment aboard, while the Planetary Society is tagging along with a n an unprecedented disclosure, earlier this month the Department of Defense did reveal some details about the X-37B latest mission “We are investigating an experimental propulsion system on the X-37B on Mission 4,” Captain Chris Hoyler, an Air Force spokesman, told Space.com.
“The Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office will also host a number of advance materials on board the X-37B for Nasa to study the durability of various materials in the space environment,”
Hoyler added. Spaceflightnow.com revealed more details of the flight, which it described as a ‘hall thruster electric propulsion test.”