Rarely do we catch a glimpse of the mysterious activities of a space plane in orbit. Recently, the US Space Force shared an image, reportedly taken by the X-37B last year, which shows the Earth in the distance and a portion of the craft itself. The X-37B commenced its seventh mission towards the end of 2023, although details regarding the mission’s objectives remain scarce. Its preceding flight, which concluded in 2022, established a new record for endurance, with the space plane spending 908 days in orbit.

Although the photo does not reveal much information, it provides a unique perspective on the X-37B in space. The Space Force stated on X, “An onboard camera of the X-37B, utilized to ensure the vehicle’s safety and well-being, captured an image of Earth while conducting experiments in High Earth Orbit in 2024.”

One aspect of the current mission that has been disclosed is that it marks the first instance of the Boeing-manufactured X-37B attempting a maneuver known as aerobraking, which is a more fuel-efficient method of changing orbit by utilizing the drag of Earth’s atmosphere through a series of passes. The Space Force announced in October that the vehicle had initiated the process, and the latest update confirms its success. According to the Space Force, “The X-37B executed a series of groundbreaking maneuvers, known as aerobraking, to safely alter its orbit while minimizing fuel consumption.” The duration of the mission’s continuation remains uncertain.