The records are falling for the X-37B space plane.
The X-37B has set a new record for the longest time in Earth's atmosphere. Orbital Test Vehicle 6 or OTV6 is a vehicle designed and built by Boeing and is currently flying on a mission.
The Boeing Space plane has set another endurance record, as it has on every mission since it first launched in 2010, while also thanking the US Air Force.
There are 10 surprising facts about the X-37B space plane.
781 days and counting!The world's only reusable spaceplane, #X37B, has set another endurance record -- as it has on every mission since it first launched in 2010. Congratulations to the @USAirForce, @SpaceForceDOD and all our teammates who support X-37B! #SemperSupra pic.twitter.com/zzZAOG0Wa5July 7, 2022
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Some of the X-37B's on board experiments have been made public. The PRAM is a small device that converts solar power into microwaves which can be beamed back to Earth.
Two NASA experiments designed to test the effects of radiation on plant seeds and the U.S. Air Force Academy-designed FalconSat-8 satellite are among the other payloads launched on OTV 6.
The X-37B's overall design is similar to that of NASA's now-retired space shuttle, although the X-37B is much smaller.
The X-37B has a weight of 11,000 pounds. The X-37B can operate from 150 to 500 miles. The craft has fully automated de-orbit and landing capabilities, as well as a fully mechanical control system. Boeing says the X-37B is one of the world's newest and most advanced re-entries.
According to experts, the X-37B is too small and not maneuverable enough to be used for a variety of roles. US military officials have claimed for years that the space plane's main role is testing new sensor systems and other technologies.
OTV6 just set a new duration record for the X-37B program, but it's not quite up to the mark for spaceflight. For example, many Earth-observation satellites operate for 10 or more years, and NASA's Voyager 1 and 2 are still alive nearly 45 years after they were launched.
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