Ars Technica
•83% Informative
A Finnish satellite tracking hobbyist finds the X-37B spaceplane.
The semi-classified spaceplane flew into orbit on December 28 on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.
It's not far off predictions from the hobbyist tracking community before the launch in December .
The spaceplane resembles a miniature version of NASA 's retired space shuttle orbiter.
The secrecy surrounding the X-37B has sparked much speculation about its purpose.
Analysts say it could be a testbed for new space technologies.
The unusual elliptical orbit for this mission is similar to the orbit used for some of the Space Force's satellites designed to detect and warn of ballistic missile launches.
VR Score
84
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semi-formal
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English
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51
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short-lived
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