The U.S. military’s secretive X-37B space plane is becoming a little less mysterious as Boeing and the U.S. Space Force have recently shared details about its aerobraking maneuvers. Aerobraking is a process that helps lower the orbit of the space plane and safely dispose of unnecessary hardware before it lands back on Earth.
Typically, satellites use onboard thrusters to change orbit, requiring propellant and limiting the number of burns they can perform. Aerobraking, however, utilizes Earth’s atmosphere to guide a spacecraft to a new orbit, saving significant amounts of propellant. This technique is crucial for the X-37B as it allows for a controlled descent and disposal of service module components in accordance with space debris mitigation standards.
In a video released by Boeing, an engineer explains how aerobraking works for the X-37B. The space plane adjusts its attitude, allowing its flat underside to face forward as it encounters Earth’s atmosphere, generating heat and slowing down due to atmospheric drag. This maneuver is a novel approach for the X-37B team and has been praised by U.S. Space Force leadership for expanding their capabilities in the space domain.
The X-37B’s current mission, OTV-7, marks another milestone as it launched atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket for the first time. While the specifics of the mission remain classified, it is known to involve testing space radiation effects and space domain awareness technologies. These missions play a crucial role in advancing the nation’s space capabilities and informing future space architectures.
The success of the X-37B’s aerobraking maneuvers demonstrates the dedication and perseverance of the team behind this innovative spacecraft. As the spacecraft continues to push boundaries in space exploration, its missions are shaping the future of space technology and national security.
