Military Spacecraft Departs for Another Secret Mission

Another US military mini shuttle blasted off Thursday night to conduct classified experiments in space. Launched by SpaceX, the uncrewed space plane took off from Cape Canaveral, Florida. It's the eighth such flight for the test vehicles known as X-37B, the AP reports. This one will test laser communications and safe navigation without GPS, according to the US Space Force. "These experiments come as part of a broader push across the US Space Force to uphold the safety and security of the space domain by enhancing the resilience and flexibility of US orbital systems," the force said in a statement last month.

It's not yet clear how long the mini shuttle will remain aloft. The last X-37B circled the globe for a little over a year before returning to Earth in March. Previous missions have lasted months to years. The Boeing-made reusable space planes were first launched in 2010 and are 29 feet long with a wingspan of almost 15 feet.