US Space Force Prepares X-37B Mission 8 for Launch

The U.S. Space Force, in collaboration with the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office and SpaceX, is finalising preparations for the launch of the eighth mission of the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV-8) on August 21 from Kennedy Space Centre.

The eighth mission of the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle is set to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, designated USSF-36, with a diverse array of test and experimentation objectives. These objectives encompass demonstrations of high-bandwidth inter-satellite laser communications technologies and advanced space navigation utilising the most advanced quantum inertial sensor in space.

"OTV-8 exemplifies the X-37B's status as the U.S. Space Force's premier test platform for the critical space technologies of tomorrow. Through its mission-focused innovation, the X-37B continues to redefine the art of the possible in the final frontier of space," said AFRCO Acting Director William Blauser.

Since its inaugural launch in April 2010, the X-37B program has accumulated 4,208 operational days. Previous missions have effectively showcased the X-37B spacecraft’s capability to adjust its orbital path through an innovative aerobraking manoeuvre.

The program has investigated space domain awareness technologies, successfully tested a technology developed by the Naval Research Laboratory for capturing solar energy and transmitting power to Earth, and exposed seeds to the space radiation environment to improve our understanding of supporting humans on extended crewed missions to the moon and beyond.

The X-37B is an adaptable and efficient spacecraft tasked with performing a variety of tests and experiments that accelerate the advancement of essential next-generation technologies and operational concepts for reusable space capabilities.