CAPE CANAVERAL — The U.S. Space Force geared up Thursday for the launch of its secretive X-37B space plane, a robotic vehicle resembling a miniature space shuttle, amid warnings that a late-night sonic boom could rattle residents along Florida’s coast.
Launch is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 21, at 11:50 p.m. EDT (0350 GMT, Aug. 22).
The eighth mission for the Boeing-built X-37B, dubbed OTV-8 or USSF-36, was slated to lift off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Officials said the launch window opened in the evening, with the reusable first-stage booster expected to return to nearby Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, potentially producing the telltale double boom as it breaks the sound barrier during descent.
Space Force leaders described the outing as a platform for testing advanced technologies in orbit, though details remained classified. “This mission will continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in space,” said Col. Megan Andriessen, commander of the X-37B program, in a statement released ahead of the flight.
The X-37B, which has logged more than 3,774 days in space across its previous seven missions, operates autonomously and can stay aloft for extended periods. Its most recent flight ended in March after 434 days, landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California with a sonic boom of its own.
Unlike traditional crewed shuttles, the 29-foot-long X-37B carries no astronauts and focuses on experiments ranging from materials science to navigation systems. The program’s opacity has fueled speculation over the years about its role in military operations, though officials insist it’s primarily for research.
Local authorities urged residents to prepare for the noise, which could echo across Brevard County and Indian River County shortly after liftoff. Similar booms from past SpaceX landings have startled Floridians, sometimes mistaken for earthquakes or explosions.
Weather conditions appeared favorable for the attempt, with SpaceX monitoring for any last-minute changes. If delayed, backup opportunities were available in the coming days.
The Space Force, established in 2019, oversees the X-37B as part of its efforts to maintain U.S. dominance in space, amid growing competition from nations such as China and Russia.
