ULA, U.S. Space Force launch secretive X-37B “mini shuttle” aboard Atlas V rocket

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — United Launch Alliance in partnership with Boeing and the U.S. Space Force successfully launched an Atlas V rocket at 9:14 a.m., dedicated to the victims of the COVID-19 pandemic and healthcare workers.

The star of this morning’s rocket launch is a mysterious “space plane” constructed by Boeing and dubbed the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle; neither ULA nor U.S. government officials have made public the duration of the shuttle’s new mission, however it’s public knowledge that this is it’s sixth flight since 2010.

The spacecraft is just 29 feet long, with a footprint comparable in size to that of a shipping container.

Setting itself apart from previous missions, this particular X-37B is loaded with science experiments for NASA and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory to study while it’s in orbit.

So far, the “space planes” have recorded a total of at least 2,865 days in orbit in the last ten years, ultimately spending more time floating in the exosphere than on the ground.

Sunday’s rocket launch was dedicated by ULA to COVID-19 victims, front-line workers and first responders, with a relevant message screened to the side of the Atlas V.

Reviewing the ULA live stream of this morning’s launch, flight controllers in mission control can be seen practicing social distancing and wearing masks.

Originally scheduled Saturday and delayed under less than perfect conditions off of Florida’s east coast, this morning’s launch marks the second successful mission of the U.S. Space Force since March.

At the time of this report, SpaceX says that it will attempt to launch another grouping of 60 Starlink satellites aboard a Falcon 9 rocket shortly after 3 a.m. Tuesday morning.