S Secretive X-37B Is Returning To Space With New Tech

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Just a few months after wrapping up its seventh test flight in orbit, Space Force's experimental vehicle known as X-37B is ready for another go. For its upcoming mission, the spaceplane will test new technologies meant to bolster military capabilities in space, such as a navigational sensor that could replace GPS.

The U.S. Space Force is set to launch the Boeing-built orbital test vehicle, designated as OTV-8, on August 21 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida  aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket.

For flight number eight, X-37B will carry an unidentified number of payloads, including a laser communications technology demonstration and a quantum sensor for navigation in space, according to the Space Force .

The laser communications demonstration will use infrared light to transmit data and involve commercial satellites in low Earth orbit.

Laser communication packs more data into each transmission, and it's also considered more secure than the more commonly used radio frequency transmissions.

OTV-8 will also carry a quantum inertial sensor, an extremely precise device that measures acceleration using the principles of quantum mechanics. The device would enable navigation without having to rely on GPS. ⁘This technology is useful for navigation in GPS-denied environments and consequently will enhance the navigational resilience of U.S. spacecraft in the face of current and emerging threats,⁘ the Space Force wrote in a statement.

After nearly a year of trying to fix the ill-fated spacecraft, NASA says Starliner is set for a cargo mission in 2026.

Critics of Boeing have long expressed criticisms of the 787 Dreamliner and the company's standards.