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Boeing has confirmed its X-37B spaceplane will soon perform a series of advanced aerobraking manoeuvres, taking the dynamic spaceplane from a highly elliptical orbit, where it’s been operating since December 2023, and lowering its altitude using minimal fuel.
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During aerobraking, the X-37B will use the drag of Earth’s atmosphere to slow it down, reducing the vehicle’s energy and changing the orbit while expending minimal fuel.
This will be the first time that Boeing, the United States Space Force (USSF) and the X-37B attempt to accomplish this novel demonstration.
Michelle Parker, vice-president of Boeing’s Space Mission Systems, celebrated this milestone achievement, saying, “There is no other space platform as capable, flexible and manoeuvrable as the X-37B, and its next demonstration will be another proof point that this test vehicle sets the pace of innovation.”
The service module disposal will be conducted in accordance with established standards for space debris mitigation and the X-37B’s orbit change will occur in a safe and responsible manner. Once aerobraking is complete, the X-37B will resume its test and experimentation objectives.
“Space is a vast and unforgiving environment where testing technologies is critical to the success of future endeavours,” Parker said.
US Space Force Chief of Space Operations General B Chance Saltzman said, “This first-of-a kind manoeuvre from the X-37B is an incredibly important milestone for the United States Space Force as we seek to expand our aptitude and ability to perform in this challenging domain.”
The program will leverage six successful missions of safely operating the X-37B around Earth during this next demonstration.
Boeing brings decades of lessons learned from operating other spacecraft in a variety of orbits, from the Apollo missions, the Space Shuttle Program, and hundreds of government and commercial satellites.
