The U.S. military occasionally provides insights into its X-37B spaceplane, an advanced robotic vehicle that has the capability to remain in space for several years.

Recently, the U.S. Space Force, which assumed control of space operations from the Air Force in 2019, released a new image taken by the X-37B from orbiting Earth. The photograph showcases a portion of the spaceplane alongside an extended panel, set against a backdrop of an Earth that is partially in shadow.

“An onboard camera of the X-37B, utilized to monitor the vehicle’s condition and safety, captures an image of Earth while performing experiments in [highly elliptical orbit] in 2024,” the Space Force announced on X. “The X-37B carried out a range of unprecedented maneuvers known as aerobraking to safely adjust its orbit with minimal fuel consumption.”

This represents the seventh mission for the X-37B, which operates between 150 and 500 miles above the planet. The spaceplane’s design is focused on testing technologies for reusable spacecraft and conducting long-term experiments. Initially created by Boeing for NASA, the project shifted to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in 2004. With a length nearing 30 feet, the X-37B is approximately one-fourth the size of NASA’s retired Space Shuttle.

The “aerobraking” maneuver referenced by the Space Force entails utilizing Earth’s atmosphere to produce drag, thereby enabling the spacecraft to modify its orbit without excessive fuel expenditure.

“This innovative and effective series of maneuvers exemplifies the Space Force’s dedication to pioneering groundbreaking advancements while executing national security missions in space,” remarked former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall in 2024.

Even though it launched in December 2023, the X-37B is not poised for a return to Earth just yet. The mission continues to focus on testing and experimentation, according to the Space Force. Once completed, the spaceplane will re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and land on a runway—an occurrence that the U.S. military has documented previously.

While the military is enthusiastic about highlighting the achievements of the X-37B, it remains cautious about revealing too much concerning its classified operations in space.