X-37B glides to landing in California

The U.S. Air Force's X-37B space plane concluded its third mission Friday, streaking through the atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean and gliding to an automated landing on a runway at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., after spending a record 675 days in orbit.

Touchdown on Vandenberg's Runway 12 occurred at 1624 GMT (12:24 p.m. EDT; 9:24 a.m. PDT) Friday, according to an Air Force press release.

The unpiloted Boeing-built space plane glided to an automated landing after streaking through the atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean and lining up with the runway at Vandenberg.

Flying on autopilot, the X-37B dropped its three-piece landing gear, flared its nose and plopped down on the runway at speeds of nearly 300 mph.

After landing, technicians in hazmat suits approached the 29-foot-long mini-shuttle on the three-mile-long concrete runway to safe the vehicle propulsion system, which consumes toxic hydrazine fuel.

Read our full story for details.