Pentagon’s secret X-37B plane breaks space longevity record
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One of the US Air Force’s most mysterious projects – an unmanned space-faring plane – has broken its own longevity record by staying in orbit for more than 469 days. There aren’t many details floating around in public regarding the X-37B – a classified project that’s seen three launches into space thus far – but a new reportby the IDG News Service suggests the plane is being used to test out the Air Force’s new space capabilities while also boosting the intelligence community’s surveillance capacity. Launched back in December 2012, the Boeing-designed X-37B has been floating above the Earth ever since. The plane looks like a smaller cousin to NASA’s pastspace shuttle models, and has been designed with quick turn-around times in mind, so that it can easily be re-launched after landing. Although few people know exactly what the vehicle is intended for, astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell told IDG it seems clear one of the big features is the plane’s ability to stay in spa