After several delays, the X-37B “spy” space plane prepares to return to space

(From Kennedy Space Center, Florida)- Mysterious X-37BA mini spy plane US Air ForceA ship is about to be put back into orbit around Earth SpaceX Falcon Heavy Rocket. Its launch had to be canceled twice: the first due to bad weather, and the second, on December 13, due to problems with the ground systems of the famous launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center.

It will be Ninth task by one Falcon Heavy Since its debut in 2018. But it’s the fifth so far in 2023, marking an acceleration in launch speed for SpaceX’s second most powerful rocket after Starship.

while, SpaceX comes close to stating that 100 introduced this yearSince it is no 94. Beyond this achievement, however, attention turns to the payload that goes inside its cap: the “Mini Space Shuttle.” This small spacecraft, still considered a “spy” by some, has been making long-duration missions. In the late 90s, more precisely in 1999, the X37-B had to wait almost 10 years for its debut. It was in 2010 that ULA launched an Atlas V rocket.

Beyond these essential points, the truth is that the story of the X37-B is quite interesting. Here we will do a review.

Although not much is known about the true intentions of this mini space plane, there were initially speculations about its function and it was believed. Built to spy. Or, it was even assessed that it would seek to attack satellites of enemy nations, an argument that later lost ground due to its poor maneuverability.

That’s why the explanation that has gained so much traction in recent years is that the X37-B is a platform for testing new technologies, both military and civilian.

cheater Nine meters long, five meters wide (wings) and almost three meters highThe aircraft was designed by Boeing with a capacity of up to 270 days in orbitA Heights That range between 177 and 805 kilometers. However, since 2010, he has shown in each of his assignments that those numbers are too small for him.

The space taxi, or space shuttle, that has carried NASA astronauts into Earth orbit for 30 years and allowed the space station to be built, the X37-B has the ability to return to our planet by gliding like an airplane. This action gives you the ability to regroup and prepare for new tasks. Another important feature is that while in orbit, it uses a solar panel that provides power and allows it to stay around the Earth for a long time.

In its six previous missions, the X37-B has been launched five times by a ULA Atlas V rocket and once by a SpaceX Falcon 9, launchers or vectors that can accommodate its 5-ton mass. However, the Space Force announced that for its seventh flight, it will do so using one of the most powerful rockets on the market, the Falcon Heavy. This decision automatically triggered various speculations.

Will it be placed in an orbit that is too far from Earth? Will it go into a 36,000 km high geo-stationary orbit? In geo-stationary orbits, the satellite’s (or ship’s) translational velocity is equal to the Earth’s rotational velocity (from its point in space). Due to this phenomenon the satellite always remains at the same point on the earth.

Details are still unknown, with the North American Space Force providing only indications in a brief statement that, by launching the aircraft from a Falcon Heavy, the X37-B will be able to test different orbital regimes. The reason: The ship can reach new heights using the enormous capacity of SpaceX’s second most powerful rocket.

According to some reports, with Falcon Heavy, the initial orbital potential or its orbital insertion will be around an orbit with a perigee of 185 kilometers and an altitude of 35 thousand kilometers. This would place the mini-spacecraft in an orbit with a high eccentricity, although it is estimated that it could later shift to different altitudes or circle it.

Along with these details, this is the main reason why it was decided to use the Falcon Heavy’s caliber rocket with three attached Falcon 9s, two of which are “side boosters” and one is a “core booster”.

Like the Falcon 9, the Falcon Heavy is a recoverable vehicle because its first three stages can land. However, it is worth clarifying that on this particular mission, only the sidecars (going on their fifth mission) will return to Earth. As they mentioned, they will land at what are known as SpaceX 1 and 2 in Cape Canaveral.

The X37-B has a payload bay measuring 2.1 meters by 1.2 meters, which pales in comparison to a manned space taxi. However, it is roomy and interesting enough for both classified cargo such as NASA or civilian cargo.

Seeds-2: For example, NASA will send a second version of an experiment called “Seeds”, which it will name “Seeds-2”. As it is known, this research consists of testing different seeds against direct radiation recorded in space. This time, X37-B will have the advantage of working at different altitudes due to the different orbits it can achieve during this mission. The North American Space Agency has already conducted various experiments with plants and seeds on the space station, which is a stable and already known environment. However, using the X37-B can open up new frontiers.

Microsatellites: Students from the United States Military Academy can take advantage of tasks such as designing, building and launching small satellites located in the X37-B’s cargo bay.

PRAMFX (Photovoltaic Radio Frequency Antenna Module Flight Test): Beyond its long brief, this is an experiment that has already flown with the X37-B and is expected to do so again. It is a technology that man has dreamed of for years and is almost like a science fiction movie. The idea is to use large solar panels in orbit to collect energy and then send it via microwaves to different points on Earth.

In this way, new technological doors can be opened to provide instant power to remote locations on Earth or to troops in strategic locations without access to power. Also, microwave emissions from space are much safer, more efficient and more sustainable than transporting tons of fossil fuels to various points on the planet.

As such, the United States Air Force took up the challenge and, as an experiment, used the X37-B’s solar panel to capture energy from the sun, convert it into electricity, and use the 2.45 beam microwave energy. gigahertz, which is directed towards a receiver on Earth. The next step is to carry out different tests to analyze the ability to use this energy.

The truth is, there is a lot of anticipation surrounding the next flight of the “Mini Spy Space Plane,” and not just because of the fact that it will be launched by a Falcon Heavy, but because it’s a spectacular sight. In addition, it is expected to break another record for remaining in space forever, while anticipation for what new orbit it will travel to is growing.