The Boeing-built X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle launched on its eighth mission, taking off at 11:50 pm ET aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The spaceplane is operating normally in orbit and is undergoing standard system checkouts.
Less than six months after completing its seventh mission, which concluded with a landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, on March 7, 2025, the vehicle is once again in space. This mission features a Boeing integrated service module designed to enhance payload capacity, supporting a variety of experiments while in orbit.
Michelle Parker, Vice President of Boeing Space Mission Systems, stated, “Our role is to ensure the spaceplane serves as the most reliable test platform possible. Teamwork is essential — launch is just the beginning. The real progress happens with careful work on orbit, detailed analysis, and safe return.”
The X-37B is carrying several technology demonstrations from government partners, including laser communication systems and a quantum inertial sensor aimed at improving navigation in GPS-denied environments. During its previous mission, the vehicle performed a groundbreaking aerobraking maneuver, adjusting its orbit while conserving fuel.
Col Brian Chatman, Installation Commander for Space Launch Delta 45, explained, “A reusable space platform allows us to gather data more quickly. The insights gained from the X-37B accelerate decision-making, strengthen our systems, and ensure personnel remain connected and navigationally aware, even in contested settings. This is how we translate concepts into deployable capabilities swiftly.”
The X-37B program is a government–industry collaboration led by the U.S. Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, with operational oversight provided by the U.S. Space Force. Boeing teams based in Seal Beach, California, and Kennedy Space Center, Florida, are responsible for the design, manufacturing, integration, and operation of the reusable spaceplane. Since its first flight in 2010, the vehicle has completed seven missions, spending over 4,200 days in space and returning safely after each mission for inspection and upgrades.
Boeing, a global aerospace leader and major U.S. exporter, designs, manufactures, and services commercial aircraft, defense systems, and space technologies for customers in more than 150 countries. With a strong workforce and supplier network, Boeing drives innovation, economic growth, sustainability, and community development. The company is dedicated to upholding its values of safety, quality, and integrity in all its operations.
