Elon Musk’s SpaceX is set to launch a secret rocket into Earth’s orbit later today.
The company’s Falcon Heavy rocket is due to lift off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida this evening.
Riding on the rocket will be mysterious X-37B spaceplane which can fly for hundreds of days at a time.
It is often used for carrying civilian and top secret military experiments on board.
WATCH: SpaceX launch of Falcon 9 rocket earlier this year
The exact purpose of each mission is always kept under wraps.
US Space Force, the space service branch of the US Armed Forces, said that tonight’s mission has a “wide range of test and experimentation objectives”.
It added the tests include “operating in new orbital regimes, experimenting with space domain awareness technologies and investigating the radiation effects to Nasa materials”.
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said: “This seventh flight of the X-37B continues to demonstrate the innovative spirit of the United States Space Force.”
The X-37B spaceplane can orbit for months at a time
REUTERS
The Falcon 9 launch was originally due to take place yesterday
REUTERS
It is thought that the X-37B will attempt to reach new height and fly for longer than it ever has before.
No date of return to Earth has been provided for the spacecraft.
“We are excited to expand the envelope of the reusable X-37B’s capabilities, using the flight-proven service module and Falcon Heavy rocket to fly multiple cutting-edge experiments for the Department of the Air Force and its partners,” said Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Fritschen, the X-37B Program Director, in a statement.
Originally the launch had been due to take place last night, but it was forced to delay for 24 hours due to bad weather conditions.
In a message shared on social media, SpaceX said: “Now targeting Monday, 11 December for Falcon Heavy’s launch of the USSF-52 mission, with weather conditions forecasted to improve to 70 per cent favourable for liftoff on Monday night.
“The team will use the time to complete additional pre-launch check outs.”
X-37B’s last flight touched down in November 2022.
Dr. Thomas Hughes is a UK-based scientist and science communicator who makes complex topics accessible to readers. His articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
