US Space Plane to Test Cutting-Edge Quantum Navigation Tech
▼ Summary
– The US Space Force will launch its secretive X-37B space plane on its eighth mission no earlier than August 21 from Kennedy Space Center.
– Two active X-37Bs exist, with the first completing a record 908-day flight (2020-2022) and the second landing after 434 days in March 2024.
– The upcoming OTV-8 mission will test high-bandwidth laser communications and host experiments for military research units via an expanded service module.
– The flight will also test advanced quantum inertial sensors for navigation in GPS-denied environments, including potential lunar or deep-space applications.
– Unlike its previous Falcon Heavy launch, the X-37B will return to a medium-lift Falcon 9 rocket for this mission.
The US Space Force’s X-37B space plane is gearing up for another groundbreaking mission, this time testing advanced quantum navigation technology alongside other cutting-edge experiments. Scheduled for launch no earlier than August 21 aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, the uncrewed spacecraft will take off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking its eighth flight since the program began in 2010.
Built by Boeing, the X-37B resembles a miniature Space Shuttle, measuring just 29 feet long, roughly a quarter the size of NASA’s retired orbiters. Two of these vehicles have been conducting increasingly lengthy missions, with one setting a record by spending 908 days in orbit between 2020 and 2022. The upcoming flight will likely utilize the first of these two spacecraft, continuing the program’s tradition of pushing the boundaries of long-duration space operations.
Unlike previous classified missions, the Space Force has shared more details about OTV-8, revealing it will carry a service module to accommodate additional experiments. Among the key objectives are tests of high-bandwidth laser communications between satellites, a technology poised to revolutionize military and commercial space networks. General Chance Saltzman, the Space Force’s chief of space operations, emphasized that this demonstration will enhance the resilience and speed of satellite communications, critical for modern warfare and global connectivity.
One of the most anticipated experiments involves a quantum inertial sensor, described as the most advanced of its kind ever tested in space. This technology, which measures motion using atom interferometry, could provide precise navigation in environments where GPS signals are unreliable or unavailable, such as contested battlefields or deep-space missions. Boeing has already validated similar systems on aircraft, but this marks its first orbital test, potentially paving the way for future lunar and interplanetary exploration.
The X-37B’s return to a Falcon 9 launch vehicle follows its recent mission aboard SpaceX’s more powerful Falcon Heavy, which enabled it to reach an unusually high orbit. While the upcoming flight’s trajectory remains undisclosed, the focus on quantum navigation and laser communications underscores the military’s push to develop next-generation space technologies capable of operating independently of traditional infrastructure.
With each mission, the X-37B continues to demonstrate its versatility, serving as a platform for classified payloads while advancing technologies that could reshape both national security and space exploration. As the Space Force prepares for this latest launch, the world will be watching to see how these innovations perform in the harsh environment of space.
(Source: Wired)
