U.S. secret shuttle X‑37B begins 7th orbital mission using SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket

Consisting of three connected modules, the Falcon Heavy was launched from a pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The successful launch occurred following more than two weeks of unsuccessful attempts and delays.

The Falcon Heavy rocket carried the X-37B vehicle, built by Boeing, into space. This vehicle, roughly the size of a small bus, resembles a miniature space shuttle. Its primary function is to deploy various payloads in orbit and conduct technological experiments. Upon mission completion, the spacecraft navigates through the atmosphere and lands on a runway like an airplane.

Since 2010, the X-37B has conducted six missions. The Atlas V rockets, owned by United Launch Alliance - a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin - were used for the first five missions. In May 2020, the miniature shuttle was launched using SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, owned by Elon Musk.

While the Pentagon has not disclosed the altitude at which the X-37B will be deployed this time, experts speculate that the Falcon Heavy could launch the vehicle into a highly elliptical Earth orbit approximately 21,748 miles (rounded from 35,000 kilometers) from Earth or even on a trajectory that could bring it close to the Moon.

The X-37B also conducts NASA experiments to study radiation's effects on plant seeds during prolonged exposure in space. The potential of growing plants in space is a significant consideration in plans to supply astronauts with food during future extended missions to the Moon and Mars.

On December 14, China launched the covert miniature shuttle Shenlong into space.