Should the eighth mission scheduled for August 21 occur as planned, it is believed that the X-37B spacecraft will spend more than a year in orbit.
In May, the People’s Republic of China demonstrated a new capability in orbit—a laser satellite communications (satcom) capability that could revolutionize the way large amounts of information are passed wirelessly from one location to the next. According to the Economic Times, the Chinese demonstration “shattered” Starlink records due to its innovative use of lasers to transmit large amounts of data.
Just a few months later, the United States is preparing to launch its dynamic X-37B into orbit on its eighth mission on August 21, 2025. The United States Space Force plans for the unmanned, miniature space shuttle will test an American laser satcom—as well as a quantum sensor.
The laser satcom system that is being tested in orbit uses optical data links for satellite-to-satellite as well as satellite-to-ground communications. The system uses light waves, thereby allowing for greater amounts of data to be transmitted than what current systems allow.
The lasers are also more secure than traditional forms of communication, meaning greater information security.
Meanwhile, the experimental quantum sensor was developed for the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) under a contract with Vector Atomic, a California startup.
These are two technological developments that could have revolutionary effects not only for the global civilian economy, but for the United States military as it seeks new and innovative ways to maintain its global force posture in a world that is increasingly contested by rival great powers.
According to the trade publication Breaking Defense, “Quantum sensors for [Positioning, Timing, and Navigation (PNT)] use atomic accelerometers or gyroscopes that measure acceleration and rotation by shining lasers into small clouds of atoms (usually rubidium) contained in vacuum chambers … The tricky part is making the sensors small enough and robust enough for use not just on satellites, but on ships, aircraft, vehicles and even in soldiers’ backpacks.”
The Strategic Implications of the X-37B’s Tests
These tests come as part of the Space Force’s vital mission of space resilience. For more than a decade, America’s great state rivals—China and Russia—have been working assiduously at developing the means to deny the Americans easy access to space during a military conflict on Earth.
The counterspace capabilities of both Russia and China have become complex. Given the US military’s reliance on satellites, especially its Global Positioning System (GPS), Russia and China’s counterspace capabilities are geared toward depriving the US military access to their GPS constellation of satellites.
The Space Force brass believes that by generating new technologies, such as the kind that the quantum sensor may provide, they are creating a potential follow-on technology to traditional PNT tech that can be disrupted easier by enemy interference. This is an important step toward keeping the Americans competitive, if not dominant, in the strategic high ground of space.
That China has conducted similar experiments in orbit also indicates that the Americans understand they are lagging behind their Chinese rivals, and are working overtime to compensate for Beijing’s edge. Indeed, Space Delta Nine is the Space Force unit charged specifically with orbital warfare.
What To Know About NASA’s X-37B Spacecraft
Using the X-37B, one of America’s most important military space platforms, is a good choice, too. This craft has demonstrated repeatedly an incredible ability to sustain itself over protracted durations in orbit. In fact, it has broken several records for sustained orbital operations since entering service in 2010.
Previously known as the “Orbital Test Vehicle” (OTV), the Boeing X-37B is a reusable spaceplane that serves as an experimental platform for testing advanced space technologies. The program originated in 1999 as a NASA initiative to create an uncrewed reusable spacecraft for technology demonstration. Boeing was selected as the prime contractor, with funding shared among NASA, the US Air Force, and Boeing itself. By 2004, the project was moved to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and became classified, reflecting its major military implications.
Two years thereafter, the Air Force took over, developing the X-37B variant through its Rapid Capabilities Office in collaboration with NASA and the Air Force Research Laboratory. Initial atmospheric drop tests began in 2005 using the X-37A prototype, leading to the first orbital flight in 2010. In 2019, after the newest branch of the United States Armed Forces was formed, management was transferred from the Air Force to the Space Force.
The X-37B has a maximum takeoff weight of around 11,000 pounds and features a seven-by-four-foot payload bay capable of carrying up to 500 pounds of experiments. Power comes from gallium arsenide solar cells and lithium-ion batteries, while propulsion uses a hypergolic system with nitrogen tetroxide and hydrazine. Designed for low-Earth orbit (LEO) operations and able to withstand reentry speeds up to Mach 25, this key strategic asset is made from advanced heat-resistant ceramic tiles.
A main feature of this bird is its autonomous landing capability, allowing it to touch down on runways just like a conventional aircraft—a trait shared only with the Soviet Buran and US Space Shuttle.
The X-37B Keeps America’s Adversaries Up at Night
The X-37B has completed seven orbital missions in the course of its lifespan, accumulating 4,200 days in space across two operational vehicles (OTV-1 and OTV-2). On mission OTV-6, from 2020 through 2022, the craft spent a record 908 days in orbit.
Should the eighth mission scheduled for August 21 occur as planned, it is believed that the spacecraft will spend more than a year in orbit. In that time, it will undoubtedly further US military strategic goals in space—and keep America’s enemies on their toes.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
