Last week, the U.S. Space Force launched the seventh mission of the X-37B: a secretive spaceplane or orbital test vehicle (OTV) project intended to prepare the country for the next era of space travel.

Almost nothing is known about the Boeing-built spacecraft’s specific purpose, payload, or final destination. But we do know that the most recent launch had more juice than any other, perhaps enough to send X-37B into deep orbit—or even to the neighborhood of the moon.

“The technological advancements we’re driving on X-37B will benefit the broader space community, especially as we see increased interest in space sustainability,” said Michelle Parker, vice president of space mission systems for Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “We are pushing innovation and capability that will influence the next generation of spacecraft.”

The mission, known as USSF-52 or OTV-7, departed Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A last Thursday evening in Florida after a few weeks of delays because of weather and technical issues. SpaceX shut down its livestream of the launch at the request of the Space Force once X-37B reached orbit.

“My memories go back to the Gemini and Mercury programs,” said Frank Kendall, secretary of the U.S. Air Force. “This is an incredible event, and I think about the teamwork over all those decades that has led to what has been a revolutionary improvement in space travel capability. We have come so far, and it’s been teamwork by the government, the Air Force, and now the Space Force, which didn’t exist until a few years ago, NASA, industry teams, and so many others that all contributed to what we saw.”

For the first time, the reusable, self-flying spaceplane left the launchpad coupled to a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket—one of the most powerful launch vehicles in existence. The rocket’s three first-stage boosters are also reusable.

X-37B’s first five missions used Atlas V rockets made by United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, while the sixth flew on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 booster. Each trip was confined to below 1,200 miles in altitude. Falcon Heavy, meanwhile, can reach 22,000 miles, fueling speculation that X-37B’s seventh mission may go deeper than ever before. But the Space Force has not disclosed the spaceplane’s flight plan.

The X-37B project—a collaboration between the Space Force and U.S. Air Force’s Rapid Capabilities Office under the National Security Space Launch program, with support from Boeing—is shrouded in secrecy.

Speculation on X-37B’s purpose ranges from new spying and reconnaissance capabilities to a weapons delivery system, the latter of which the Pentagon has denied. According to a Space Force statement, USSF-52 specifically will test operations in new “orbital regimes” and explore the effects of radiation on NASA payloads. Seeds, for example, will be exposed to the bitterness of space, perhaps to understand how humans could sustain interplanetary bases.

“The X-37B government and Boeing teams have worked together to produce a more responsive, flexible, and adaptive experimentation platform,” said William Bailey, director of the Rapid Capabilities Office. “The work they’ve done to streamline processes and adapt evolving technologies will help our nation learn a tremendous amount about operating in and returning from a space environment.”

In addition, the orbital test vehicle will experiment with “future space domain awareness technology,” which the Space Force explained is designed to enable safe and secure space operations for government and commercial users alike.

What Do We Know?

U.S. agencies have largely kept the details of X-37B under wraps, but there are a few clues as to its intended use.

The spaceplane has been in development for decades. Originally, it was a NASA-led project. In 1999, the agency enlisted Boeing’s Phantom Works—the manufacturer’s prototyping arm responsible for such cutting-edge designs as the A160 Hummingbird—to build the ambitious concept.

According to Boeing’s website, the design is an advanced reentry spacecraft geared for operations in low Earth orbit, about 150 to 500 miles above the ground. It’s the first vehicle since NASA’s space shuttle capable of returning experiments to Earth for analysis, landing on the runway like an airplane. Its goal, Boeing says, is to explore reusable technology for “long-term space objectives.”

X-37B introduced a handful of technologies that had previously never been used in spaceflight. Its state-of-the-art avionics, for example, automate de-orbiting and landing, considered some of the trickier maneuvers to make. The spaceplane’s flight controls and brakes replace hydraulics with electromechanical actuation, while a lighter composite structure stands in for traditional aluminum. The design also includes a new generation of high-durability tiles.

Not everything is new, however. The mysterious spacecraft’s landing profile and lifting body architecture—a fixed-wing configuration wherein the body itself provides lift for subsonic, supersonic, or hypersonic flight or spacecraft reentry, à la Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser—resemble the space shuttle’s.

Yet X-37B is only one-fourth as large, about the size of a small bus. It’s also much harder to track than its predecessor, capable of quickly changing orbit or “hiding” in the glare of the sun to keep its position secret.

Since its maiden voyage in April 2010, the spaceplane has spent more than 3,750 days in space, traveling an astounding 1.3 billion miles. In 2019, it won the Robert J. Collier Trophy, awarded by the National Aeronautic Association for the greatest American aeronautical or astronomical achievements of the year prior.

Another Space Race?

With each voyage, X-37B has flown farther and for longer. But at the same time, a foreign superpower is ramping up its own mysterious, state-of-the-art spaceplane project.

Boeing’s model was initially designed for a mission duration of 270 days. But since OTV-2 in 2011, each test flight has been longer than the last. 

Its sixth and most recent mission, which touched down in November 2022, lasted a record 908 days. If that’s any indication, OTV-7 will fly even longer. The mission was also the first to introduce an expanded service module that allowed the spacecraft to host more experiments than ever before, including payloads from the Naval Research Lab and more seeds from NASA.

X-37B’s seventh mission could be its last, according to comments from General B. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations for the Space Force, in 2020. That could be consequential given activity across the Pacific. 

Earlier in December, China launched its Shenlong “Divine Dragon” on its third mission since 2020 aboard a Long March 2F rocket, which is less powerful than SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy. There are no photos available of the secretive spacecraft, but it’s thought to be similar to the X-37.

Like its American counterpart, not much is known about Shenlong’s purpose. But a few weeks ago, it reportedly deployed six mysterious objects into orbit. Though the project is covert, U.S. officials are already drawing links between it and the Space Force initiative. The close timing of the two launches, in particular, has raised eyebrows—if not for delays, X-37B and Shenlong would have reached orbit within days of each other.

“It’s no surprise that the Chinese are extremely interested in our spaceplane,” Saltzman told Air & Space Forces Magazine last month. “We’re extremely interested in theirs. These are two of the most watched objects on orbit while they’re on orbit. It’s probably no coincidence that they’re trying to match us in timing and sequence of this.”

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The occasion also marked the completion of the vehicle’s sixth mission. The X-37B carries experiments into space and returns them to earth for analysis for government and industrial partners. It has now flown more than 1.3 billion statute miles and spent 3,774 days in space.

For the latest mission, the vehicle’s sixth, it carried a service module that was used to increase its payload capacity. The module separated from the orbiter before its re-entry to ensure “a safe and successful landing,” Boeing said.

“This mission highlights the Space Force’s focus on collaboration in space exploration and expanding low-cost access to space for our partners, within and outside of the Department of the Air Force (DAF),” said Gen. Chance Saltzman, chief of Space Operations.

The mission began with the launch of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket that carried the orbiter from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in May 2020, Boeing said. The vehicle carried experiments, including a solar energy project designed by the Naval Research Lab, and a satellite designed and built by cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy in partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory, Boeing said, noting that the satellite, called FalconSat-8, deployed in October 2021 and remains in orbit today.

“Since the X-37B’s first launch in 2010, it has shattered records and provided our nation with an unrivaled capability to rapidly test and integrate new space technologies,” said Jim Chilton, senior vice president, Boeing Space and Launch. “With the service module added, this was the most we’ve ever carried to orbit on the X-37B and we’re proud to have been able to prove out this new and flexible capability for the government and its industry partners.”

The X-37B program is a partnership between the U.S Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office and the U.S. Space Force. Boeing designed and manufactured the spacecraft, and provides program management, engineering, test and mission support from sites in California, Florida, and Virginia. 

In 2020, the X-37B received the Robert J. Collier Trophy for advancing the performance, efficiency, and safety of air and space vehicles, Boeing said.

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On May 14, the FAA approved Huntsville International Airport (KHSV) to operate as a commercial space reentry site, where the Space Shuttle-esque Dream Chaser will begin making reentries from low-Earth orbit (LEO).

The Dream Chaser is the reusable re-entry vehicle designed by Sierra Space to deliver supplies to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Commercial Resupply Services 2 (CRS-2) program by NASA. The spaceplane could begin landing in Huntsville as soon as next year.

Dream Chaser will operate with two configurations, crewed and uncrewed, both of which will be reusable for more than 15 launches and runway landings. Sierra Space and other commercial space companies will still have to apply for their individual licenses to operate out of KHSV, according to the FAA.

• READ MORE: Sierra Space One Step Closer to Landing Spaceplane at Alabama Airport

In December 2021, the FAA held a public hearing on Sierra Space’s spaceport proposal, which garnered support from local residents. According to the FAA, Dream Chaser will create a sonic boom upon re-entry, but Sierra Space claims the noise level will be similar to that of a clap of thunder.

“The Huntsville community, of course, has a long history of supporting advanced spaceflight and other aerospace technologies and is fortunate to have an airport with two long runways and advanced safety resources, including crash and response and all that within a vast physical airfield area,” said Mark Spencer, a local resident and founder of Avilution, an avionics company.

Huntsville has long been home to many historic space travel efforts, including NASA’s upcoming Space Launch System (SLS), which is set to make its first trip to the moon this summer.

• READ MORE: Huntsville Airport Could Become Commercial Spaceport

While rockets and spacecraft may be built in Huntsville, not all the residents are happy to hear that one may be landing there, such as local resident Robert Kendall.

“In Huntsville, we build rockets. We have a NASA engineering type of community, and we love what we do. But we do not launch the rockets from here, nor do we land them here,” he said during the hearing.

Sierra Space has not set a date for the first flights of the Dream Chaser.

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According to Virgin Galactic, the company already has hundreds of reservations for its previous $250,000 set of tickets. If you want to reserve your spot in line now, you’ll have to be ready to make a $100,000 deposit.

We here at FLYING like to stretch our dollars a bit further than for one 90-minute spaceflight. Here’s five things you can buy for around the same price as a Virgin Galactic trip.

An Icon A5

The amphibious Icon A5 may be one of the sleekest recreational aircraft out there. For just $389,000—more than $60,000 less than a trip to space—you can fly a fully loaded A5, with an integrated (and removable) Garmin GPS.

You may not get to see the curvature of the Earth, but the A5’s panoramic canopy and removable windows will be perfect for sightseeing, regardless of altitude. The A5 seats one pilot, a passenger, and up to 60 lbs of baggage. This aircraft will take you 427 nautical miles before you’ll need to refuel—which you’ll be doing often when you fall in love with this one-of-a-kind machine.

Seven Piper Cherokees

Are you wanting to start a small fleet of aircraft? For the cost of one 90-minute flight to the edge of space, you can buy seven used Piper Cherokees—with a little left over to help keep them somewhere safe.

Used Piper Cherokees span a wide range, but typically sell for an average of $60,000 and can seat one pilot and up to three passengers. The 150 hp air-cooled engine will take you over 600 nautical miles with a maximum speed of 123 knots. The original versions, the Cherokee 150 and 160, began production in 1961 and remain popular in today’s used market.

11 Cessna 152s

The Cessna 152 is the training aircraft for anyone looking to begin their flying career. If you want to start a flight school and need multiple aircraft, this may be your best bet. The 152 delivers 150 horsepower from its Lycoming O-235-L2C flat-4 engine, pushing out a maximum speed of 110 knots and a maximum range of 477 miles.

You can expect this aircraft to get the job done every time. Considering its a trainer, used models may show signs of wear and tear, but this plane is sure to hold its value for years to come.

18 ERCO Ercoupe 415Ds

You may be thinking, “this is kind of ridiculous.” While that is a valid concern, the only ridiculous thing is the value of 18 ERCO Ercoupe 415Ds. These stall-proof, spin-proof, and slip-proof airplanes are truly meant for anyone to fly.

The 415D has a great maximum range of 450 nautical miles with a top speed of 102 knots. It’s definitely a more peculiar aircraft, seeing that it doesn’t come equipped with rudder pedals—but don’t worry, it’s made by the same man, Fred Weick, who designed the aforementioned Piper Cherokee.

The 415D also holds the title for the first general aviation aircraft to have a fully-cowled engine.

50 Chotia Weedhoppers

Now, this may not be your ideal alternative to going to space, but an entire fleet of Chotia Weedhoppers could be a good investment.

The Weedhopper was created by John Chotia and introduced during the Ultralight craze of the 1970s. In what is essentially aluminum tubing and Dacron-enveloped wings, this extremely inexpensive aircraft proves as a great first-buy at just under $9,000.

While its maximum speed of 56 knots and room for one may seem measly, this aircraft can offer you a peaceful afternoon flight through gorgeous weather—and with 50, you can get one for all your friends and family. While each Weedhopper on the market may differ slightly, the plans for the aircraft are available for purchase—providing you with all the room for creativity during your build.

Did we miss any aircraft that belong on this list? Write us at editorial@flying.media, or tweet us @FLYINGMagazine on Twitter.

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In a statement Wednesday, Radian Aerospace said it had “emerged from stealth” after raising $27.5 million in seed funding, led by Fine Structure Ventures. Other investors included EXOR, Helios Capital, Explorer 1 Fund, and several more.

Greetings Twitterverse! We’re Radian and we’re building the world’s first fully reusable horizontal takeoff & landing, single-stage to orbit spaceplane. Follow us as we work to unlock the potential of space. https://t.co/e587q0tuZJ pic.twitter.com/gxQ5vKkaRf

— Radian Aerospace (@RadianSpace) January 19, 2022

According to the company’s website, Radian aims to develop the first crewed, reusable space vehicle—what it calls Radian One—capable of reaching low-Earth orbit (LEO) and repeating the trip in as little as 48 hours.

“To date, a low-cost space transport solution has been lacking that can get humans and cargo to and from space at a highly responsive rate,” said Brett Rome, Venture Partner at Fine Structure Ventures, in a statement. “Radian is well-positioned to fill that gap with disruptive technology that helps enable the emerging space economy. We are confident in the experienced team at Radian, and thrilled to be supporting its mission as Radian works to revolutionize the future of space access.”

The unique design of the spaceplane would perform a sled-assisted takeoff, steadily ascend to LEO, and land on any 10,000-foot runway.

‘What We Are Doing Is Hard’

“Wings offer capabilities and mission types that are simply not possible with traditional vertical takeoff right circular cylinder rockets,” said Livingston Holder, Radian’s co-founder in a statement. “What we are doing is hard, but it’s no longer impossible thanks to significant advancements in materials science, miniaturization, and manufacturing technologies.”

Holder is also Radian’s CTO and former head of the Future Space Transportation and X-33 program at Boeing.

‘Holy Grail’ of Space 

What Radian is attempting has long been considered the “Holy Grail” of “accessing space with full reusability and responsiveness,” according to former Lockheed Martin executive Doug Greenlaw, who is an investor and adviser for the company.

In the 1990s, NASA spent $922 million on a similar effort with Lockheed Martin’s X-33, an uncrewed, sub-scale technology, demonstrator, suborbital spaceplane. But issues and delays led to the project’s cancellation in 2001.

According to Radian, the company has already secured launch service agreements with the U.S. government, selected foreign governments, and commercial space stations.

“On-demand space operations is a growing economy, and I believe Radian’s technology can deliver on the right-sized, high-cadence operations that the market opportunity is showing,” said Dylan Taylor, chairman and CEO of Voyager Space, in a statement. “I am confident in the team working at Radian and look forward to cheering them along in this historical endeavor.”

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