Secretive US Space Plane Takes Off For Its Sixth Mission

The state of the art reusable spacecraft X-37B also known as an Orbital Test Vehicle(OTV) took off atop an Atlas V rocket  at 13:14 UTC, Sunday from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

The flight carries two NASA experiments to study space radiation and the effects of space exposure on materials and seeds for food.

The space plane will deploy the small FalconSat-8 satellite built by the U.S. Air Force Academy and carry a novel power-beaming experiment built by the Naval Research Laboratory to demonstrate technology to transform solar power into radio frequency microwave energy which could then be transmitted to the ground.

The novel power-beaming experiment - the Photovoltaic Radiofrequency Antenna Module Flight Experiment (PRAM-FX) represents the first orbital test of such technology.

Satellites in high orbit receive a near-constant stream of sunlight, with only brief passes through the Earth's shadow. The PRAM-FX experiment seeks to determine the feasibility of big solar arrays in orbit collecting enough sunlight to generate a powerful beam of microwaves. This beam can then be converted into useful power by a collection station on Earth.

According to US Air force the experiments and technology on this X-37B mission, “enables the US to more efficiently and effectively develop space capabilities necessary to maintain superiority in the space domain.”

The mission has more experiments than usual, thanks to the addition of a new service module — a cylindrical structure attached to the bottom of the spaceplane -- packed with technology to be tested on orbit.

The PRAM-FX is just one of several research payloads aboard this X-37B mission. Most of what goes on on the spaceplane is highly classified. In fact in its previous five missions - and cumulative seven years and 10 months in orbit - the Air Force didn't mention the spaceplane carrying scientific payloads or give details about the spaceplane's payloads or precise purpose.

This marks the sixth mission for the X-37B(hence the OTV-6 designation), and comes six months after the space plane returned home from its record-breaking fifth mission to orbit. It landed at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on October 27th after spending a total of 780 days in space. That flight marked its longest mission yet in space.

The un-crewed spaceplane built by the Boeing Company, operates like a smaller, robotic Space Shuttle. It launches atop a United Launch Alliance(ULA)'s Atlas V rocket and can stay in orbit for months on end.

President Trump's newly minted Space Force, which is part of the Department of the Air Force, is responsible for X-37B launches, orbital operations and landings.

Sunday's launch called Atlas V USSF-7 is dedicated to first responders in the fight against the wuhanvirus pandemic.

In a statement, Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett said: "Our invincible American spirit drives us to motivate, collaborate, and innovate together to overcome adversity. In dedicating this mission to the nation's healthcare workers, first responders, and essential personnel, the Department celebrates those who are keeping America Strong."