- SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket successfully launched the U.S. Space Force’s X-37B spaceplane into orbit, carrying it as its sole payload.
- The mission, designated USSF-52, has multiple objectives, including operating the reusable spaceplane in new orbital regimes and investigating the radiation effects on materials provided by NASA.
- The decision to book a Falcon Heavy for this mission is unprecedented, as the spaceplane has previously launched on smaller Falcon 9 and Atlas V rockets.
- This launch marks the fifth time SpaceX has launched a Falcon Heavy rocket this year, and the ninth overall since 2018.
- The mission will eventually see the X-37B returning to Earth and landing on a runway like a conventional aircraft, with one of the known payloads being a NASA experiment known as Seeds-2.
SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket has successfully launched a secretive military spaceplane into orbit. The rocket took off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at 8:07 PM Eastern, carrying the U.S. Space Force’s X-37B spaceplane as its sole payload. The mission, designated USSF-52, has a number of objectives, including operating the reusable spaceplane in new orbital regimes, experimenting with future space domain awareness technologies, and investigating the radiation effects on materials provided by NASA.
Details of the Mission
The X-37B spaceplane is a reusable vehicle that serves as a classified testbed for experiments in space. Not much is known about the mission, as the target orbit, mission duration, and many of the payloads are classified. Additionally, the windows of the spaceplane are blacked out, adding to the mystery surrounding this particular mission.
Unprecedented Choice of Rocket
The decision to book a triple-boosted Falcon Heavy for this mission is unprecedented. This is the first time the military has selected Falcon Heavy for an X-37B mission. In the past, the spaceplane has launched on smaller Falcon 9 and Atlas V rockets. The extra boost could suggest that this mission is heading to farther orbits, although the space plane’s mission profile remains a secret.
SpaceX’s Role
This launch marks the fifth time SpaceX has launched a Falcon Heavy rocket this year, and the ninth overall since 2018. The successful launch came after more than two weeks of delays, first due to poor weather and then again due to undisclosed issues. It was SpaceX’s 97th launch this year, and it completed its 98th just hours later when a Falcon 9 launched a batch of Starlink satellites.
The mission will eventually see the Boeing-built X-37B returning to Earth and landing on a runway like a conventional aircraft. One of the known payloads is a NASA experiment known as Seeds-2, which will explore the effects of space radiation on plants. The secretive nature of the mission, coupled with the choice of Falcon Heavy for the launch, adds to the intrigue surrounding this latest foray into space by the U.S. Space Force.
