October 13, 2025
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  • [ October 9, 2025 ] U.S. Space Force picks Blue Origin bid for expanding satellite processing at Cape Canaveral News
  • [ October 9, 2025 ] SpaceX delays launching Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellites amid backdrop of poor weather Falcon 9
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X-37B

Falcon 9

Falcon 9 rocket fired up for launch of military mini-shuttle

August 31, 2017 Stephen Clark

Running through a practice countdown and hold-down engine firing at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket passed a key checkpoint Thursday ahead of liftoff next week with the U.S. Air Force’s fifth X-37B spaceplane flight, a mission that will come with several firsts.

Falcon 9

Video: SpaceX rocket runs through hotfire test at pad 39A

August 31, 2017 Stephen Clark

SpaceX’s next Falcon 9 rocket ignited its Merlin main engines for several seconds Thursday at Kennedy Space Center’s pad 39A ahead of a planned launch next week.

Uncategorized

Live coverage: Falcon 9 rocket fired up for hold-down test

August 31, 2017 Stephen Clark

SpaceX’s next Falcon 9 rocket arrived at Kennedy Space Center’s pad 39A on Thursday for a hold-down engine firing ahead of launch next week with the U.S. Air Force’s X-37B spaceplane. The brief engine ignition occurred at 4:30 p.m. EDT (2030 GMT).

Falcon 9

U.S. Air Force taps SpaceX to launch next X-37B spaceplane mission

June 6, 2017 Stephen Clark

A month after an X-37B mini-space shuttle glided to a landing on Kennedy Space Center’s runway in Florida, the U.S. Air Force announced Tuesday that the spaceplane’s next mission will launch in August aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket for the first time.

Atlas 5

Photos: Sunday’s return of X-37B after 718 days in space

May 8, 2017 Justin Ray

This gallery of U.S. Air Force photos show technicians, wearing protective SCAPE suits, initially check for hazardous hypergolic fuel vapors around the X-37B spaceplane on the Shuttle Landing Facility runway and the subsequent tow of the vehicle to its newly-renovated hangar at the Kennedy Space Center.

Atlas 5

Video: Sunday’s landing of X-37B at Kennedy Space Center

May 7, 2017 Justin Ray

The U.S. military’s mini space shuttle successfully returned to Earth today, touching down on Runway 15 at the Shuttle Landing Facility after spending 718 days in space.

Antares Launcher

X-37B spaceplane returns to Earth and makes autopilot landing in Florida

May 7, 2017 Justin Ray

The Air Force’s robotic X-37B mini space shuttle swooped out of obscurity today after 718 days spent in orbit on a secretive military mission, touching down at the Kennedy Space Center’s orbiter runway on autopilot, the military announced on Twitter.

News

No imminent X-37B landing planned

February 14, 2017 Justin Ray

The enigmatic X-37B spaceplane, launched into low-Earth orbit on an experimental military mission in 2015, continues to circle the planet despite a flurry of landing rumors.

Atlas 5

One year in space: X-37B spaceplane celebrates anniversary without fanfare

May 20, 2016 Justin Ray

Orbiting the world in seclusion for the past year, the Air Force’s mysterious X-37B spaceplane marks the anniversary of its launch today.

News

X-37B spaceplane’s orbit discovered

May 27, 2015 Justin Ray

Hobbyists who keep track of the skies with remarkable precision have found the U.S. Air Force’s mini space shuttle in its no-longer-secret orbit around the Earth.

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News Headlines

  • Live coverage: SpaceX to launch final Version 2 Starship-Super Heavy from Starbase
    October 12, 2025
  • U.S. Space Force picks Blue Origin bid for expanding satellite processing at Cape Canaveral
    October 9, 2025
  • SpaceX delays launching Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellites amid backdrop of poor weather
    October 9, 2025
  • SpaceX launches 28 Starlink satellites with a Falcon 9 booster flying for a 29th time
    October 7, 2025
  • SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket on 90th Starlink mission of 2025
    October 6, 2025
  • SpaceX to launch 4 Falcon Heavy rockets as part of newest U.S. national security missions award
    October 4, 2025
  • SpaceX launches 3rd consecutive Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB, uninterrupted by a Cape mission
    October 2, 2025
  • ViaSat-3 F2 satellite arrives in Florida ahead of late October launch
    October 1, 2025
  • Report argues NASA is illegally using President’s Budget Request to circumvent Congress’ budgeting process
    October 1, 2025
  • Axiom Space taps Portuguese physiologist as first ‘Project Astronaut’
    September 30, 2025
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