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The first X-37B returned to Earth yesterday after a successful orbital test flight lasting about seven months. The small ship is the second US craft (after the space shuttle) capable of launching into space and landing in order to be used again. It's the first such reusable shuttle that's unmanned and capable of being remotely piloted.

The X-37B program is demonstrating a reliable, reusable unmanned space test platform for the Air Force. Its objectives include space experimentation, risk reduction, and concept-of-operations development for reusable space vehicle technologies that could become key enablers for future space missions.