The U.S. Air Force has said a Boeing-built robotic space plane is scheduled to perform an on-orbit exercise this week, Space.com reported Tuesday.
Irene Klotz writes that X-37B, also called the Orbital Test Vehicle, was designed to remain in orbit for at least 270 days and demonstrate technologies for reusable uncrewed spacecraft as well as operate experiments to be returned and analyzed on Earth.
The Air Force launched the classified plane aboard an Atlas V rocket in May 2015.
NASA originally managed the X-37B program before it was transferred to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and afterwards conveyed to the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, Klotz reported.
