http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=post&forum=228Military's secret shuttle passes test, remains in orbit
11:44 PM, Dec. 2, 2011
![](http://i816.photobucket.com/albums/zz85/OKIsItJustMe/bilde.jpg)
The vehicle is shown in California after its December 2010 flight. / Associated Press via Air Force Times
CAPE CANAVERAL — A U.S. military mini-shuttle is flying overtime this week after successfully cruising through nine months of classified operations in low-Earth orbit.
Launched atop an Atlas V rocket at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station last March, the unmanned X-37B spacecraft was designed to fly in orbit up to 270 days. It surpassed that mark Wednesday, and Air Force officials are keeping the winged ship aloft for an additional, undefined period of time.
“We’re extremely proud of this accomplishment,” Air Force Lt. Col. Terry McIntyre, X-37B systems program director, said in a statement.
The extended mission “is moving us forward in our effort to prove the utility and cost-effectiveness of an unmanned, long-duration reusable spacecraft.”
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