The Boeing built X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) successfully launched on its eighth mission at 11:50 p.m. ET aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Kennedy Space Center. The reusable spaceplane is now in orbit, in good health, and undergoing standard on-orbit checkout procedures.
This milestone comes less than six months after the X-37B completed its seventh mission, landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., on March 7, 2025. The latest mission incorporates a Boeing-developed integrated service module, enhancing payload capacity and expanding opportunities for on-orbit experimentation.
“Our role is to make sure the spaceplane is the most reliable testbed it can be,” said Michelle Parker, vice president of Boeing Space Mission Systems. “None of this happens without teamwork. Launch is the starting line for this mission, but the work that follows – the quiet, methodical work on orbit, analysis and eventual return is where progress is earned.”
Advancing Technology in Space
For this mission, the X-37B is carrying multiple technology demonstrations for U.S. government partners. Key experiments include laser communications systems and a quantum inertial sensor designed to support navigation in environments where GPS signals are unavailable.
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The program continues to build on historic achievements. During its prior flight, the X-37B executed the first-ever aerobraking maneuver by a reusable spaceplane—changing orbits while conserving propellant.
“Having a returnable space platform allows us to learn faster,” said Col. Brian Chatman, installation commander for Space Launch Delta 45. “The data we gather from the X-37B speeds decisions, hardens our architectures, and helps Guardians stay connected and on course even in contested environments. This is how we move from promising ideas to fieldable capability at pace.”
The X-37B program is led by the U.S. Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, with the U.S. Space Force overseeing operations. Boeing teams in Seal Beach, Calif., and Kennedy Space Center, Fla., design, integrate, and operate the vehicle. Since its first launch in 2010, the X-37B has flown seven successful missions, spending more than 4,200 cumulative days in orbit and returning safely after each flight for inspection, refurbishment, and further capability enhancements.