![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.azuse.cloud\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/x-37b-space-plane-444x333.jpg\")
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The U.S. Air Force’s space plane is getting ready to go back to space. Based on historic precedence, its mission would roughly be two years. One explanation given for this spacecraft is to test new technologies. However, it may be capable of doing other activities.<\/p>\n
From The National Interest:<\/span><\/p>\n The X-37B’s increasing endurance is testimony to its design and careful planning by its operators. The vehicle once in orbit deploys solar panels for powering on-board systems. It also packs liquid fuel for its maneuvering thrusters.<\/p>\n The Air Force as a matter of habit does not disclose the X-37B’s payloads. The service made an exception to that practice for OTV-5. The X-37B on that mission carried the Advanced Structurally Embedded Thermal Spreader built by the Air Force Research Laboratory.<\/p>\n According to the Air Force, the spreader helped to “test experimental electronics and oscillating heat pipe technologies in the long-duration space environment.” The X-37B itself, with its longer and longer missions, is driving demand in the United States for spacecraft components that can survive for years at a time in orbit.<\/p>\n The X-37B is capable of so much more. It’s worth noting that OTV-5 was the first X-37B mission to launch and land from a high inclination.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The National Interest has more at this link<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"