SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches X‑37B Space Plane:What Will X‑37B Do Next?

A loud sonic boom awakened residents of Florida's Space Coast late in the evening on August 21, 2025, when SpaceX launched a classified mission for the U.S. Space Force with its Falcon 9 rocket. That mission's payload? 

The X-37B space plane, an autonomous, reusable orbital vehicle that exists with limited public knowledge. At 11:50 EDT, the Falcon 9 lifted off, and it would be the eighth of the X-37B - a crucial part of our military space mission. 

Although many of the particulars about the launch were classified, officials confirmed that the mission would test advanced technologies in quantum navigation and laser satellite communications.

 The Falcon 9 booster launched and returned (and boomed) for a successful event that was on display as a technical achievement but just as surely a sign of space's increasing strategic value.

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More photos from tonight’s Falcon 9 launch of the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle’s eighth mission to orbit pic.twitter.com/qURZEEqRQn

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 22, 2025

What is the X‑37B Space Plane? 

The X‑37B, also called the Orbital Test Vehicle, or OTV, is a reusable, unmanned spaceplane developed by Boeing and flown by the U.S. Space Force. 

It is about the size of a small bus, and has the look of a scaled-down version of NASA's retired space shuttle, but it is fully autonomous and designed to fly without human crew.

Though originally designed by NASA and then transitioned to the Department of Defense, the X‑37B is designed to examine new, cutting-edge technologies in space, and to deliver classified military payloads. 

Missions can last for months and years in space and then land on Earth, like a plane, on a runway. 

Even while much of the mission remains classified, it is essential to advancing our capabilities in space for defense, navigation, and communications.

SpaceX Falcon 9 X‑37B Space Plane Launch

On the evening of August 21, 2025, SpaceX launched the U.S. Space Force's X-37B space plane on a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission, designated USSF-36, was the eighth flight of the X-37B, a reusable, unmanned orbital vehicle manufactured by Boeing that has yet to be disclosed to the public primarily due to its military applications. 

This mission illustrates the emerging partnership between SpaceX and the U.S. military. The growing and contested strategic nature of space and iteratively developing new capabilities is becoming clearer. The Falcon 9 vehicle's flawless performance further supports that SpaceX is an increasingly reliable provider in the commercial space market and the U.S. Defense market.

What Will X‑37B Do Next?

Here are some of the major objectives that X‑37B has to cover: 

Evaluating Advanced Technologies in Orbit

One of the significant validated components of this mission is the testing of the quantum inertial navigation device, the guidance systems of the future, which can work without GPS. These technologies are crucial to fully autonomous navigation in deep space or contested environments where satellite signals could be compromised.

Experiments in Long-Duration Spaceflight

The X‑37B has the ability to remain in orbit for hundreds of days. Its last mission lasted a record 908 days. Scientists and engineers are likely utilizing this mission to study how several materials, electronics, and systems respond over long durations of exposure to the extreme conditions of space.

Broader Space Force Capabilities

While a majority of the X‑37B’s mission is classified, the U.S. Space Force has publicly highlighted its role in building resiliency and readiness in space. It is likely used to test orbital maneuverability, rapid deployment, and even potential capabilities for future satellite servicing or counter-space endeavors.