SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket thundered into the night sky from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday night (via Reuters).

The massive rocket took off on a mysterious mission, carrying the X-37B drone of the United States military on its seventh classified mission.

This is the first time the uncrewed and autonomous X-37B will be launched atop the Falcon Heavy, one of the world's most powerful operational rockets capable of carrying payloads weighing up to 26,700 kilograms deep into space.

Top-Secret US Mission

The mission remains shrouded in mystery, with the Pentagon releasing little information. Only referred to by its mission code name-USSF-52-details have been scarce, adding to the X-37B's already mysterious nature.

Previous statements from the US Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office alluded to "multiple cutting-edge experiments" planned for this mission.

These include testing the reusable spaceplane in new orbital regimes, investigating future space domain awareness technologies, and investigating radiation effects on NASA materials.

The X-37B, roughly the size of a small bus and resembling a miniature version of the retired manned space shuttles, has garnered attention for its past missions.

On prior flights, it conducted tests for NASA, including experiments on the impact of radiation on various materials, including seeds, holding implications for future space agriculture.

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Similar Launch from China

What adds an intriguing global dimension to this mission is the recent launch by China of its own secretive robotic space plane, the Shenlong, just two weeks ago.

While China's state news agency, Xinhua, highlighted plans for "reusable technology verification and space science experiments," this event adds a new layer to the intensifying US-Sino rivalry in space exploration.

Moreover, the strategic implications of the X-37B's higher orbit—made possible by Falcon Heavy's capabilities—remain a topic of speculation.

This launch signifies a departure from the X-37B's prior missions confined to low-Earth orbit, potentially indicating a shift towards geosynchronous orbit, over 22,000 miles above Earth.

The X-37B, also known as the Orbital Test Vehicle, is built by Boeing and boasts a 15-foot wingspan, relying on solar panels for power. Its autonomous landing system sets it apart, enabling it to touch down on runways akin to an airplane despite its rocket-like vertical takeoff.

The duration of this mission remains undisclosed, yet based on patterns of progressively longer flights, it is expected to last several years. This extended duration could facilitate advanced experiments, including NASA's study on plant seeds' response to prolonged exposure to space radiation, which is pivotal for future long-term space missions.

The Guardian tells us that General B Chance Saltzman of the Space Force remarked that the interest and timing of China's Shenlong launch, coinciding with the X-37B flight, hint at a competitive stance in the space arena.

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