Why top-secret spacecraft's recent mission is an 'incredibly important milestone' that has never been done before

US Space Force officials have addressed a 'groundbreaking' mission demonstrating 'first of a kind' maneuvers in space undertaken by a top-secret spacecraft.

The United States Space Force X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV-7) is currently on its seventh mission in space and has orbited Earth for over 4,000 days however, any news of its missions or sightings have remained mainly classified until recently when the Space Force shared a photograph from onboard the spacecraft.

The mission

In a photo shared to Twitter on February 21, Space Force said: "An X-37B onboard camera, used to ensure the health and safety of the vehicle, captures an image of Earth while conducting experiments in HEO [Highly Elliptical Orbit] in 2024."

It added: "The X-37B executed a series of first-of-kind maneuvers, called aerobraking, to safely change its orbit using minimal fuel."

The maneuvers 'change its orbit around Earth and safely dispose of its service module components in accordance with recognized standards for space debris mitigation'.

Chief of Space Operations General Chance Saltzman revealed the maneuver is a 'first of a kind' and 'incredibly important milestone for the United States Space Force as [it] seek[s] to expand our aptitude and ability to perform in this challenging domain'.

Why it's so groundbreaking

United States Space Force website states: "Since December 28, 2023, the United States Space Force, supported by the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, has conducted radiation effect experiments and has been testing Space Domain Awareness technologies in a Highly Elliptical Orbit.

"The use of the aerobraking maneuver- a series of passes using the drag of Earth's atmosphere- enables the spacecraft to change orbits while expending minimal fuel. Once the aerobrake maneuver is complete, the X-37B will resume its test and experimentation objectives until they are accomplished, at which time the vehicle will de-orbit and execute a safe return as it has during its six previous missions."

Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall added the 'novel and efficient series of maneuvers demonstrates the Space Force's commitment to achieving groundbreaking innovation as it conducts national security missions in space'.

Kendall explained it's the 'first time the US Space Force and the X-37B have attempted to carry out this dynamic aerobraking maneuver leveraging six successful missions of operating the space plane safely, as well as decades of general lessons learned from the scientific community conducting Moon and Mars missions'.

Saltzman continued: "The success is a testament to the dedication and perseverance of the team."