Elon Musks SpaceX Launches Secretive US Military Space Drone

The rocket successfully launched at 11:50 pm (0350 GMT on Friday)

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted into space on Thursday night carrying the US militarys secretive X-37B drone.

The rocket successfully launched at 11:50 pm (0350 GMT on Friday), according to SpaceXs livestream of the event.

The Falcon 9 lit up the night sky over NASAs Kennedy Space Center, where it was launched from.

The US Space Force has said the drones mission will include a wide range of test and experimentation objectives.

These operational demonstrations and experiments comprise next-generation technologies including laser communications and the highest performing quantum inertial sensor ever tested in space, the service said in a statement last month.

Mission 8 will contribute to improving the resilience, efficiency and security of U.S. space based communications architectures, it added.

About the size of a small bus, the X-37B US space drone looks like a mini version of the manned space shuttles retired in 2011.

On previous missions, the X-37B has carried out tests for US space agency NASA.

In operation since 2010, the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle was designed for the Air Force by United Launch Alliance by Boeing.

It is 30 feet (nine meters) long, has a 15-foot wingspan and is powered by solar panels.

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