Milestone Pending: Secretive X-37B Space Plane Preparing for Thursday Lift-Off

Originally scheduled for December 7, the launch faced delays due to weather conditions and technical issues. The spacecraft, set to lift off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, has a four-hour launch window beginning at 7 p.m. local time.

The skies this week may showcase a spectacular sight: the US military's ever-mysterious X-37B space plane, which is set to embark on its latest mission - not to be mistaken for a celestial event or a missile.

The high-tech, uncrewed plane, under the aegis of the US Space Force, is eagerly anticipated to launch on the evening of December 28, after finally overcoming a series of earlier delays.

The "OTV-7" mission is particularly significant as it not only tests the space plane's capabilities but also serves as a platform for several scientific experiments, including a NASA project exploring the effects of long-duration spaceflight on plant seeds.

A notable aspect of this launch is the use of SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket, a departure from the usual Atlas V and, in one instance, the Falcon 9.

While details about the X-37B's mission duration remain undisclosed, expectations are set for an extended orbital stay, potentially surpassing the previous mission's three-year span. The launch is not only a testament to technological advancement but also an opportunity for space enthusiasts to engage as SpaceX is livestreaming the event.