Boeing X-37B Autonomous Orbital Test Vehicle Completes Sixth Mission and Sets New Endurance Record!

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The Boeing-built X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) set a new endurance record after spending 908 days in orbit before landing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 05:22 am ET, Nov. 12, 2022. This surpasses its previous record of 780 days in orbit.

With the successful completion of its sixth mission, the reusable space plane has now flown more than 1,3 billion miles and spent a total of 3774 days in space, where various experiments were conducted.

The Boeing X-37B Autonomous Orbital Test Vehicle

"This mission highlights the Space Force's focus on collaboration in space exploration and expanding low-cost access to space for our partners inside and outside the Department of the Air Force (DAF).Gen. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations, said.

The sixth mission was launched on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in May 2020.

The six missions flown by the Boeing X-37B

OTV-1: Launched on 22 April 2010 and landed on 3 December 2010 (duration 224 days).
OTV-2: March 5, 2011 – June 16, 2012 (468 days).
OTV-3: December 11, 2012 – October 17, 2014 (674 days).
OTV-4: May 20, 2015 – May 7, 2017 (718 days).
OTV-5: September 7, 2017 to October 27, 2019 (780 days).
OTV-6: May 17, 2020 – November 12, 2022 (908 days).

The X-37B program is a partnership between the Air Force Rapid Operations Office and the US Space Force. Boeing designed and manufactured the spacecraft and continues to provide program management, engineering, test and mission support from locations in Southern California, Florida and Virginia.

In 2020, the X-37B received the Robert J. Collier Trophy for Air and Space Vehicle Performance, Efficiency and Safety.

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