Its mission of the Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) is still a closely guarded secret, except that it performs “long-duration space technology experimentation and testing.” On its latest flight, it exceeded the previous longest orbital flight of 717 days.
Former Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said that the orbital vehicle can change its orbital paths, making it difficult to track, and that, Wilson said, frustrates our adversaries.
“We know that drives them nuts,” Wilson said. “And I’m really glad about that.”
The current mission was launched in September 2017. There was no mention of how much longer it will remain in orbit. The first XB37 was first launched in 1999 as a NASA project. Altogether, it has completed missions totaling 2,085 days in orbit. Upon conclusion of its mission, it lands on a runway much like the Shuttle aircraft did.
The most recent OTV mission, referred to as OTV-5, launched on Sept. 7, 2017 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The vehicle is launched by a vertical lift rocket, also much like the Space Shuttle.