Posted on 02/25/2025 2:40:37 AM PST by Libloather
For the first time, we’re seeing an image from the record-breaking US military space plane while in Earth orbit.
Over the weekend, the US Space Force shared a photo taken by the spacecraft X-37B during its most recent secret mission.
It’s the first operational image shared while the space plane is in orbit.
The image shows part of the space plane, the blue marble of Earth and the darkness of space.
“An X-37B onboard camera, used to ensure the health and safety of the vehicle, captures an image of Earth while conducting experiments in HEO in 2024,” the US Space Force wrote on X.
“The X-37B executed a series of first-of-kind maneuvers, called aerobraking, to safely change its orbit using minimal fuel.”
The space plane is an orbital test platform for different experimentation missions, some of which are classified.
Its seventh mission, known as OTV-7, was launched on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket in 2023 and included both unclassified and classified experiments.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Space stuff.
You have to figure it has to have operational ability out to geosynchronous distances. Which is 22,236 miles up. The moon is roughly 1/4 million, so ~1/10th of the way there.
i cannot make out the X wings on it, rebel leader.
Pretty impressive... Most of the images I have seen are from the Shuttle and the ISS. Absolutely nothing in comparison to this distance...
Which makes me wonder about this:
“The X-37B executed a series of first-of-kind maneuvers, called aerobraking, to safely change its orbit using minimal fuel.”
They had to have done that in a closer orbit. There is no air out that far right?
Correct. It has to operate in all those orbits, LEO to geosynchronous.
Right. Perhaps it’s in an elliptical orbit, which at its low point would bring it closer to Earth. The photo could’ve been taken from the high point in its orbit.
Did you notice it is tilted almost 180 from polar axis?
“Perhaps it’s in an elliptical orbit.”
THAT makes sense...
I didn’t know it operated out to that distance. Cool beans.
Whereas “aero” typically means related to air, in this case I believe they are using the second definition which is relating to aircraft (they do call it a space plane). I have no idea what aerobraking is or how it works, but obviously it does NOT depend on the flow of air over a wing. Most likely it is a new type of highly efficient thruster.
Perhaps they should have called it Space Jamming (/sarc)
Know what would be cool? A sped up POV video trip of that elliptical orbit back around earth and out. :)
I don’t know... The other half of that statement is “to save fuel”. So I’m under the impression they are doing some sort of “air braking” maneuver to save fuel?
😎
“A sped up POV video trip of that elliptical orbit would cause a massive outbreak of exploding Flerf heads. “
Yeah a fly by would be cool. I would probably watch it over and over... lol
I have hung for hours watching the live fly over camera on the Space station...
https://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/esrs/hdev/
they have absolutely destroyed the credibility of any photograph these days. especially those of space and the cosmos.
just like the gender issue, Pretend takes relevance over facts.. It should be a crime to deceive in such a manner.
“The orientation of the platform or camera is no direct evidence of the orientation or shape of the orbit.”
Of course, there is no up or down in space indicating direction of travel. Just noticed the camera’s perspective is 180 from polar axis is all.
My God! The bottom quarter of the planet is missing!
Call DOGE!
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