Boeing's X-37B Space Plane Launches on Eighth Mission with SpaceX

The Boeing-built X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle has launched on its eighth mission, launching on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The vehicle is healthy and proceeding with standard checkout. This mission includes a Boeing integrated service module to increase payload capacity for experimentation activities on orbit. The X-37B completed its seventh mission with a landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base in March 2025.

The Boeing-built X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV-8) has successfully launched on its eighth mission, carried aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The launch occurred on Thursday, August 21, 2025, at 11:50 p.m. ET, marking another milestone in the vehicle's operational history.

The mission, designated USSF-36, aims to test and demonstrate next-generation space technologies, including high-bandwidth inter-satellite laser communications and enhanced space navigation using advanced quantum inertial sensors. This mission is significant for its potential to redefine the capabilities of the U.S. Space Force's premier test platform for critical space technologies.

The Falcon 9 rocket used for this launch is a reusable booster that has previously supported several high-profile missions, including CRS-32, GPS III-7, and two Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage booster will attempt to land on SpaceX's Landing Zone 2 (LZ-2) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

This mission represents the third time a Falcon 9 rocket has launched an X-37B spacecraft, following the successful launches of OTV-5 and OTV-7. The X-37B has accumulated a substantial amount of time in orbit, with the previous seven missions totaling 4,208 days. The longest continuous mission, OTV-6, lasted nearly 909 days.

The X-37B's eighth mission includes a Boeing integrated service module, which aims to increase payload capacity for experimentation activities on orbit. This upgrade is expected to enhance the vehicle's capabilities and facilitate the testing of new technologies.

The mission partners for this launch include the Air Force Research Lab and the Defense Innovation Unit. The U.S. Space Force, in partnership with the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office and SpaceX, is making final preparations for the launch, with a live webcast available for public viewing.

The successful launch and ongoing mission of the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle underscore the continued advancements in U.S. space technology and the potential for future innovations in space exploration and defense.

References:
[1] https://news.satnews.com/2025/08/21/spacex-sends-ussf-37-mission-x-37b-orbital-test-vehicle-soaring-from-the-cape-on-thursday/
[2] https://news.satnews.com/2025/08/20/spacex-still-plans-for-thursday-launch-from-the-cape-of-ussf-36-mission-of-the-x-37b-orbital-test-vehicle/
[3] https://spaceflightnow.com/2025/08/20/live-coverage-spacex-to-launch-x-37b-military-spaceplane-on-falcon-9-rocket-from-the-kennedy-space-center/