U.S. military’s X-37B space plane made a quiet return to Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, completing a 434-day mission that remains largely classified. With no public fanfare, the uncrewed vehicle touched down in secrecy,

The X-37B is a reusable robotic space plane operated by the US Space Force. It resembles a miniature space shuttle at just under 9 metres long with a 4.5 metre wingspan and is an uncrewed vehicle designed for long-duration missions in low Earth orbit.

Long before the first rays of sunlight brushed the California horizon, an extraordinary homecoming took place. The U.S. military’s experimental space plane, the X-37B, touched down in secrecy, its journey ending just as mysteriously as it began. After spending 434 days orbiting Earth, the un-crewed vehicle returned to Vandenberg Space Force Base.

The U.S. military's mini space shuttle has returned to Earth after circling the world on another secretive mission that lasted 434 days. The space plane blasted into orbit from Nasa 's Kennedy Space Center in December 2023, launched by SpaceX ’s Falcon Heavy rocket. The X-37B vehicle carried no people, just classified military experiments.

The U.S. military's classified mini space shuttle has returned to Earth after circling the world for 434 days.

The U.S. military's top-secret X-37B space plane has returned from a mysterious 434-day mission in orbit. The enigmatic mission 'broke new ground' for reusable space technology, according to the U.S.

Last Friday, a classified mini space shuttle by the US army made its grand return to Earth, after executing secret manoeuvres around the globe for 434 days (and without a pilot). It was in December 2023,