Spacecraft burn tons of fuel and leave behind debris—but a clever technique called aerobraking could fix both problems.

At any moment, hundreds of miles above Earth, two groundbreaking spacecraft orbit in silence. The United States Space Force X-37B executes classified maneuvers while remaining undetected for months at ...

An aerospace engineer explains why NASA, Space Force and other agencies are using or testing aerobraking for more ...

An aerospace engineer explains why NASA, Space Force and other agencies are using or testing aerobraking for more ...

This process is conceptually similar to how the U.S. Space Force's X-37B used aerobraking in early 2025. The U.S. Space Force reported that its unmanned spaceplane, X-37B, used aerobraking.

This process is conceptually similar to how the U.S. Space Force's X-37B used aerobraking in early 2025. The U.S. Space Force reported that its unmanned spaceplane, X-37B, used aerobraking. This test ...

While he did not into additional detail, industry sources said a likely factor in the delays was the March 7 landing of the U.S. Space Force’s X-37B spaceplane at Vandenberg. The runway and ...

As China’s nuclear arsenal grows, the US is betting on a space-based defence programme that faces multiple complexities and soaring costs.