A rare image captured by the top-secret X-37B spacecraft while in Earth’s orbit has been released, offering space enthusiasts a glimpse into its mysterious mission. The X-37B, which has completed seven missions over the past 15 years, is currently on its seventh (OV-7), launched in 2023 with the help of a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.
Despite spending over 4,000 days in orbit, few images from its missions have been made public. However, on February 21, the U.S. Space Force shared a photograph taken by the spacecraft’s onboard camera while conducting experiments in a highly elliptical orbit (HEO). The Space Force also revealed that the X-37B had executed groundbreaking aerobraking maneuvers to adjust its orbit with minimal fuel.
The image, showing part of the spacecraft with Earth in the background, amazed viewers. Many praised its beauty, with some urging the Space Force to share more images from the classified missions.
