The U.S. Space Force’s X-37B spaceplane is set to launch on its eighth mission next month, focusing on experiments related to space-based communications and quantum sensing. This announcement was made on Monday, highlighting a broader initiative by the Space Force to enhance the safety and security of the space domain through improved resiliency and flexibility of U.S. orbital systems.
The X-37B, a mini space shuttle manufactured by Boeing, has functioned as a testbed for the Defense Department and NASA since its inaugural flight in 2010. Although it is not operational, it serves to conduct experiments and validate maneuvering and operational concepts in orbit. Much of its previous work was classified; however, the Space Force has recently been more transparent about the mission objectives.
General Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations, discussed the upcoming mission, which will take off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. He emphasized the mission’s importance in enhancing the connectivity and resilience of the joint force, stating, “That’s how America’s Space Force secures our nation’s interests in, from and to space.”
One significant aspect of this mission will involve communications experiments that will collaborate with commercial satellite networks located in low Earth orbit, approximately 1,200 miles above the Earth. The experiments aim to demonstrate laser communication technology, which allows for the transmission of larger data volumes more securely than traditional radio frequencies. The Space Force noted that using proliferated relay networks adds resilience to U.S. space architectures by eliminating single points of failure.
The mission will also include a quantum sensing demonstration featuring the most advanced quantum inertial sensor ever utilized in space. This sensor is intended to facilitate navigation in orbit without relying on GPS or other satellite networks. The Space Force stated that such technology would be useful in GPS-denied environments and would enhance the navigational resilience of U.S. spacecraft amid various threats. This advancement could also benefit long-distance space travel and exploration, particularly in cislunar space.
Operations for the X-37B are conducted by the Fifth Space Operations Squadron at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., in collaboration with the Space Rapid Capabilities Office. While the duration of the upcoming mission has not been disclosed, the previous X-37B flight lasted 434 days, concluding in March of this year. That mission achieved a milestone by demonstrating aerobraking maneuvers that permitted the spacecraft to alter its orbit using minimal fuel.
Courtney Albon, a reporter for C4ISRNET focused on space and emerging technology, has been covering the U.S. military since 2012, with particular emphasis on the Air Force and Space Force. She has reported extensively on key acquisition, budget, and policy challenges faced by the Defense Department.
