On the morning of December 29, 2023, SpaceX successfully launched the USSF-52 into space at the HEO launch pad at Space Force Base in Cape Canaveral, Florida, using its powerful Falcon Heavy rocket. The launch, which marked the seventh mission of the X-37B orbital test vehicle, attracted widespread attention. In particular, the mission involved a high orbit with a large inclination, as well as some special loads mentioned in the open information. What is even more striking is that at the same time, China has also developed its X-37B-like aircraft and practiced 41 high-orbit satellites, making the purpose and significance of this mission even more mysterious.
The Heavy Falcon, which was scheduled to depart at 8:24 p.m. on Dec. 11, was delayed half an hour before launch due to a malfunction. However, after a series of adjustments and preparations, the mission was finally carried out on December 29. It is worth noting that during this period, China also successfully launched a Long March-2F carrier rocket and carried a reusable test spacecraft at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, which made the two space missions form a special situation of simultaneous launches.
The X-37B, an unmanned spaceplane developed by Boeing for the U.S. Space Force, weighs about 5 tons and is similar in shape to earlier space shuttles, but has a unique design with twin vertical tails. The design of the X-37B evolved from the X-37 Demonstrator, where the version before the OTV-3 (i.e., the second mission) was referred to as the X-37A, and the later version was the X-37B. The take-off of this vehicle is similar to that of a traditional space shuttle, requiring a rocket to take off vertically to send it into low-Earth orbit. It is equipped with solar cells and fuel, and can maneuver in orbit for up to 1 to 2 years or more. Its longest flight lasted 908 days.
The X-37B's landing is also similar to that of the Space Shuttle, relying primarily on a flat belly and blunt nose to slow down in the atmosphere, while using heat-resistant thermal insulation tiles to withstand the high temperatures generated during re-entry. Despite the fact that the X-37B is equipped with an engine, it does not start in the atmosphere, so it cannot fly long distances within the atmosphere. However, thanks to its good gliding performance, it has some freedom to choose where to land, usually landing at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
The nature of the X-37B's mission has always been a mystery. Compared to other satellite payloads, the X-37B is extremely capable of changing orbits, which raises suspicions that it could be a space fighter. The U.S. Space Force maintains a high degree of secrecy for each of the X-37B's missions and orbital flight status, even the payload information is extremely secretive, and only some of the information may be disclosed long after the mission has ended. In addition, the X-37B added a service pod to the tail from the OTV-6 mission and released a small CubeSat satellite during the OTV-6 mission, but this information was not made public until November 2022, after the mission ended.
For the seventh mission of the X-37B, there are many speculations and speculations, especially about the purpose of its high-altitude orbit with a large inclination. While the Falcon Heavy rocket has the ability to send the X-37B directly into a Martian transfer orbit, the X-37B is just a vehicle that performs Earth orbital missions. At present, the orbital parameters of the X-37B cannot be found at all on the public low-earth orbit satellite information query platform. in space-trackORG**, there is only its spacecraft catalog number, the international satellite identifier, and the name of USA 349, as well as speculation about its HEO orbit and inclination of about 63°.
It is widely believed in the United States that the X-37B's capabilities may include space-based intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance, or potential uses for the platform. Among other things, Warzone magazine cites the previously publicized "SEEDS-2 experiment" and the use of the X-37B as a calibrated test target for the Silent Barker SDA satellite and "long-range Earth sensing, SDA from the X-37B itself or its sub-satellites, rendezvous proximity operations, in-orbit services, etc." In addition, the US Space Force has announced that one of the important tasks of the X-37B is to "conduct experiments on space domain awareness technologies for the future."
The X-37B's mission may include verification of anti-satellite test capabilities at higher orbital altitudes. Its powerful orbit change capability allows it to get close to any satellite it wants to get close to, and if it is in the same orbit, then it can be intervened directly with a robotic arm. And satellites working in orbit usually do not have any defensive equipment, which allows the X-37B to easily approach them.
The interest of the X-37B in the high-orbit satellites of China and Russia is undoubtedly huge. Russia's deployment of maneuverable satellites, as well as China's Earth observation satellites deployed in geostationary satellite orbits, could be the focus of X-37B. The United States has established a number of programs to monitor other countries' satellites, including the Space-Based Space Surveillance System (SBSS), the Operational Space Response-5 Satellite (ORS-5), and the Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP). "Huanqiu.com" has reported that the US satellite has taken the initiative to change its orbit to approach and reconnoitre, threatening the normal operation of China's satellite, which shows that the United States has maintained a high degree of concern about China's space activities.
On the eve of the launch of the X-37B, China also successfully launched the 41st high-orbit satellite. The data from this satellite is of concern, and it may have carried "geostationary orbit panchromatic imaging with a resolution of not less than 25-meter optical camera system", which means that it has extremely high observation capabilities.
It is possible that the X-37B of the US Space Force will show great interest in this. For a space fighter like the X-37B, the remotely sensed 41 satellite may not be able to effectively defend against its attacks. China may only be able to strengthen the monitoring of the X-37B, judge its intentions in a timely manner and take appropriate defensive measures.
The X-37B's latest mission not only demonstrates U.S. advanced technology in the field of space, but also hints at the potential of space as an emerging battlefield. With the development of space technology in various countries, space security and space surveillance are becoming more and more important. Although the X-37B's mission is full of mystery, its presence and activities are undoubtedly an important part of the international space race. In the future, we may see more X-37B-like space assets deployed for a variety of complex and sensitive space missions.