The secretive X-37B space plane snapped this picture of Earth from orbit

The X-37B snapped Earth's image in orbit during a mission involving aerobraking, shared by the US Space Force.

: The US Space Force revealed an image captured by the X-37B space plane, showing Earth from orbit. The photo was taken on the X-37B's seventh mission, which began in December 2023. This mission featured an aerobraking maneuver to change orbit with minimal fuel by using Earth's atmosphere. The mission highlights the X-37B's ongoing experiments and orbital adjustments.

The US Space Force has shared a rare image of Earth, captured by the secretive X-37B space plane during its current mission in high Earth orbit. This image not only shows the Earth in the distance but also reveals part of the X-37B itself, providing a unique glimpse of this top-secret craft in action.

Launched at the end of 2023, the X-37B is on its seventh mission, though specific details of the mission remain largely undisclosed. Notably, an onboard camera snapped the planet's image in 2024 while conducting various experiments, marking another milestone in its mysterious space endeavors.

Significantly, this mission has included the first attempt by the Boeing-built X-37B to employ aerobraking, enhancing its orbital maneuvering with minimal fuel usage. The Space Force confirmed the success of this innovative technique in October, marking a leap in the efficiency of such missions, though the mission’s duration remains unspecified.

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