The U.S. Air Force’s experimental X-37B space plane returns to Earth

The U.S. Air Force’s experimental X-37B space plane returns to Earth
Officials have provided only vague details about the unmanned craft’s more than 700-day mission.

Associated Press

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.-U.S. military officials say an unmanned spacecraft orbiting Earth since May 2015 has landed in Florida.

It’s the spacecraft’s first landing in Florida. Previous X37B missions have landed at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

In a statement , officials said the X37B spacecraft is “an experimental test program to demonstrate technologies for a reliable, reusable, unmanned space test platform for the U.S. Air Force.” Another mission is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral later this year.

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Video: X 37B Orbital Test Vehicle landed at NASA ‘s Kennedy Space Center
The Air Force’s X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle mission 4 landed at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility May 7, 2017.

Managed by the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, the X-37B program is the newest and most advanced re-entry spacecraft that performs risk reduction, experimentation and concept of operations development for reusable space vehicle technologies.

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