X-37B MISSIONS

PLANE DEBUT

In April 2010, the space plane was launched into orbit, where it remained for 224 days. This mission was called OTV-1, short for Orbital Test Vehicle 1.

DOUBLE TIME

The OTV-2 mission was launched using a different X-37B. This mission lasted over twice as long as the first, totalling 468 days and beginning in March 2011.

RETURN TO THE ORIGINAL

OTV-3 saw the use of the same plane as OTV-1. It flew for 674 days between December 2012 and October 2014.

SMOOTH LANDING

OTV-4 began on 20 May 2015, using the same plane as OTV-2. It spent 718 days in space before performing the first X-37B landing at NASA’S Shuttle Landing Facility in Florida.

FALCON 9 LIFTOFF

On 7 September 2017, OTV-5 was launched from NASA’S Kennedy Space Centre, returning 780 days later. It carried experiment apparatus to test oscillating heat pipe technologies in space conditions.

2020 MISSION

The latest mission was launched on 17 May 2020 using the Atlas V. This was the first to carry an added experiment module to increase its productivity.