X-37B – Page 4 – Spaceflight Now

April 19, 2025

Breaking News

[ April 16, 2025 ] Northrop Grumman launches first Minotaur 4 rocket from Vandenberg in 14 years Minotaur 4
[ April 13, 2025 ] SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket booster on record-setting 27th time on midnight Starlink flight Falcon 9
[ April 12, 2025 ] SpaceX launches Starshield satellites for the NRO on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Falcon 9
[ April 10, 2025 ] SpaceX launches 400th flight-proven Falcon booster with Saturday Starlink mission Falcon 9
[ April 9, 2025 ] Poor weather forces a scrub of the Kuiper 1 launch on a ULA Atlas 5 Atlas 5

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Video: Fourth X-37B launch highlights

May 22, 2015 Justin Ray

This is the launch highlights reel from United Launch Alliance of the Atlas 5 rocket carrying the fourth mission of the Air Force’s X-37B spaceplane.

Photos: Pad cameras capture Atlas 5 launch

May 21, 2015 Justin Ray

The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket with the Air Force’s X-37B spaceplane lifts off at 11:05 a.m. EDT from Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

© 1999-2025 Spaceflight Now Inc