Boeing announced on Thursday, October 10, that its X-37B vehicle will soon perform a series of advanced braking maneuvers (“aerobraking”), taking the dynamic space plane out of High Elliptical Orbit (HEO). , where he has worked ever since. December 2023, to a lower altitude using very little fuel.
As the North American aircraft manufacturer explains, this is the first time that he, the United States Space Force (USSF) and the X-37B will attempt this demonstration.
“Space is a vast and unforgiving environment where testing technologies is critical to the success of future endeavors.”said Michelle Parker, vice president of Space Mission Systems at Boeing. “There is no other space platform as capable, flexible and mobile as the X-37B, and the upcoming demonstration will be further proof that this test vehicle is setting the pace for innovation.” “
During aerobraking, the X-37B will use the drag of the Earth’s atmosphere to slow down, reducing the vehicle’s energy and changing orbit while using very little fuel.
Boeing clarifies that disposal of the service module will be done according to established standards for space debris mitigation, and that the X-37B’s orbit change will occur in a safe and careful manner. Once aerobraking is complete, the X-37B will begin its test and experimental objectives.
The program will build on six successful X-37B missions operating safely around Earth during this upcoming demonstration. Boeing brings decades of lessons learned from operating other spacecraft in multiple orbits, from the Apollo missions, the Space Shuttle Program and hundreds of government and commercial satellites.
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2024-10-12 18:09:00
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