X-37B

The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle is a reusable robotic spaceplane built by Boeing and operated by the U.S. Space Force and Department of the Air Force. It evolved from earlier NASA and Air Force reusable spaceplane work into an operational orbital test platform. By 2025 it had completed its seventh mission and launched its eighth, demonstrating long-duration autonomous space operations.

The X-37B is a small uncrewed spaceplane launched by rocket and recovered on a runway. Its reusable payload bay, autonomous reentry, and long on-orbit endurance allow experiments to be flown, exposed to space, and returned for analysis. It is a space test platform rather than a conventional aircraft, satellite, or weapon system.

Operational use centers on classified and unclassified space experiments, orbital maneuvering, space-domain technology maturation, and reusable spacecraft operations. Public releases mention missions such as aerobraking and launch of the eighth OTV mission. The page should avoid speculation and stay with documented test-platform roles.