Photos: Air Force's 2nd Secretive X-37B Space Plane Flight

Secret X-37B Space Plane After Landing on June 16, 2012

30 Space Wing USAF

This infrared view of the U.S.'s Air Force secret X-37B space plane was taken shortly after it landed at Vandenberg Air Force base on June 16, 2012.

Air Force's X-37B Space Plane: OTV-2 Landing

Boeing

Designed to be launched like a satellite and land like an airplane, the second X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle, built by Boeing for the United States Air Force’s Rapid Capabilities Office, is an affordable, reusable space vehicle.

Air Force's X-37B Space Plane: OTV-2 in Infrared

USAF/Vandenberg Air Force Base

This still from an infrared camera shows the U.S. Air Force's second X-37B robotic space plane as it approaches a runway at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California during a June 16, 2012, landing that ended a 469-day mission.

X-37B Space Plane Infographic

Karl Tate, SPACE.com

This SPACE.com infographic depicts the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle is an unmanned space test vehicle for the USAF. See how the unmanned space drone works here.

Air Force's X-37B Space Plane: OTV-2 in Infrared

USAF/Vandenberg Air Force Base

This still from an infrared camera shows the U.S. Air Force's second X-37B robotic space plane as it lands at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California during a June 16, 2012, touchdown that ended a 469-day mission.

Air Force's X-37B Space Plane: OTV-2 Landing

USAF/Vandenberg Air Force Base

This still from a U.S. Air Force video shows the second X-37B unmanned space plane just after landing on June 16, 2012 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California that ended a 469-day mission.

Air Force's X-37B Space Plane: OTV-2 Landing

Boeing

The Boeing-built X-37B autonomously landed at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on June 16, 2012 after a successful 469-day mission.

Air Force's 2nd X-37B Wheelstop

USAF/Vandenberg Air Force Base

This still from a U.S. Air Force video shows the second X-37B unmanned space plane just after wheelstop following a June 16, 2012 landing at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California that ended a 469-day mission.

Air Force's X-37B Space Plane: OTV-2 Hangar

Boeing

Stretching 29 feet in length and weighing 11,000 pounds, the second Boeing-built X-37B became the longest on-orbit space vehicle on June 16, 2012 when it completed a 469-day mission with an autonomous landing at Vandenberg Air Force Station in California.

Let Me Go

United Launch Alliance

In this artist's conception, an Atlas V rocket jettisons its payload fairing to release the second X-37B space plane during the Air Force's Orbital Test Vehicle 2 mission in March 2011.

I See You X-37B: Skywatcher Video Still

Kevin Fetter

This still image taken from a video by Canadian skywatcher Kevin Fetter shows the X-37B space plane, known as the Orbital Test Vehicle 2, as it passed over his site on March 24, 2011.

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Space.com is the premier source of space exploration, innovation and astronomy news, chronicling (and celebrating) humanity's ongoing expansion across the final frontier. Originally founded in 1999, Space.com is, and always has been, the passion of writers and editors who are space fans and also trained journalists. Our current news team consists of Editor-in-Chief Tariq Malik; Editor Hanneke Weitering, Senior Space Writer Mike Wall; Senior Writer Meghan Bartels; Senior Writer Chelsea Gohd, Senior Writer Tereza Pultarova and Staff Writer Alexander Cox, focusing on e-commerce. Senior Producer Steve Spaleta oversees our space videos, with Diana Whitcroft as our Social Media Editor.