The United States Space Force is preparing to launch its reusable spaceplane, the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle, on Thursday, August 21, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. This will mark the spacecraft’s eighth mission since its debut in 2010.
Although Space Force has not disclosed the exact duration of the mission or the specific launch time, an advisory from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) places the launch window between 11:40 p.m. ET on Thursday and 5:11 a.m. ET on Friday.
Built by Boeing, the X-37B is an autonomous, uncrewed spacecraft designed to conduct long-duration technology demonstrations and scientific experiments in both low and high Earth orbit. Resembling a scaled-down version of the retired Space Shuttle, the spaceplane cannot launch independently and will be carried into orbit inside the protective fairing of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
The X-37B is notable for its ability to remain in orbit for extended periods — typically between 12 and 24 months — before returning to Earth by gliding to a runway landing. Across its first seven missions, the vehicle has accumulated over 4,200 days in space, traveled more than 1.3 billion miles, and set a record of 908 consecutive days in orbit.
For this upcoming mission, Space Force says the spacecraft will test laser-based inter-satellite communication systems and a quantum inertial sensor. Laser communications are being pursued for their ability to transmit large amounts of data securely and efficiently, while the quantum sensor is designed to enable precise navigation without reliance on GPS satellites.
“These experiments are part of a broader effort to strengthen the resilience and adaptability of U.S. space assets,” Space Force noted in a statement.
General Chance Saltzman, the chief of space operations, emphasized the strategic importance of the mission, writing on social media:
“This mission is about more than innovation. It’s about making our Joint Force more connected, more resilient, and ready to operate in the face of any challenge. That’s how America’s Space Force secures our Nation’s interests in, from, and to space.”
With its blend of secrecy and cutting-edge experimentation, the X-37B program remains one of the most closely watched elements of U.S. military space operations.
