Boeing X-37B Spaceplane Launches on Eighth Mission

The Boeing-built X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle has launched on its eighth mission, lifting off at 11:50 p.m. ET on August 21, 2025, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Boeing confirmed the reusable spaceplane is in good health on orbit and has begun standard checkout procedures.

The launch comes less than six months after the X-37B completed its seventh mission, which ended with a landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base on March 7, 2025. For this latest flight, the spaceplane carries a Boeing integrated service module, increasing its payload capacity for advanced experimentation.

“Our role is to make sure the spaceplane is the most reliable testbed it can be,” said Michelle Parker, vice president of Boeing Space Mission Systems. “Launch is the starting line for this mission, but the real progress comes from the work on orbit, analysis, and eventual return.”

On board, the X-37B is hosting technology demonstrations for U.S. government partners including the Defense Innovation Unit and the Air Force Research Laboratory. Experiments include laser communications and a quantum inertial sensor designed to support navigation when GPS is unavailable. On its previous mission, the vehicle executed a pioneering aerobraking maneuver to change orbits while conserving fuel.

The X-37B program is managed by the U.S. Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, with operations overseen by the U.S. Space Force. Since its first flight in 2010, the spaceplane has completed seven missions, spending more than 4,200 cumulative days in orbit and returning safely after each flight for inspection and upgrades.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, boeing.com