Boeing's X-37B Spaceplane Takes Off for New Mission

(MENAFN) Boeing confirmed Friday that its X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle remains in good health after its recent launch, and is now proceeding with routine checks in orbit.

The spacecraft was launched at 11:50 p.m. Eastern Time Thursday, lifted into space aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking the eighth mission for the X-37B.

According to Boeing, the mission includes an integrated service module designed to enhance payload capacity, enabling more advanced experimentation in space.

"Our role is to make sure the spaceplane is the most reliable testbed it can be," said Michelle Parker, vice president of Boeing Space Mission Systems. "Launch is the starting line for this mission, but the work that follows -- the quiet, methodical work on orbit, analysis and eventual return is where progress is earned."

Since its debut in 2010, the X-37B has completed seven previous missions and spent over 4,200 days in space, Boeing noted.

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