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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER - Boeing’s [NYSE: BA] X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle is scheduled to launch its eighth mission no earlier than August 21, less than six months after completing its previous flight. The aerospace giant, currently trading near its 52-week high of $235.27, has seen its stock surge over 31% in the past six months, reflecting strong investor confidence in its space and defense programs.
The upcoming mission will feature a service module to expand experiment capacity and will test advanced technologies including high-bandwidth laser communications between satellites and a quantum inertial sensor for navigation in GPS-denied environments.
"OTV-8’s laser communications demonstration will mark an important step in the U.S. Space Force’s ability to leverage commercial space networks as part of proliferated, diversified, and redundant space architectures," said U.S. Space Force Chief of Space Operations, Gen. Chance Saltzman, according to a press release statement.
The mission partners include the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Defense Innovation Unit. Space Force officials noted that the quantum inertial sensor technology could enable navigation capabilities in deep space and cis-lunar environments where GPS is unavailable.
Since its first launch in April 2010, the unmanned spaceplane has accumulated more than 4,200 days in orbit across its previous missions. Boeing and Space Force teams are currently preparing the vehicle at Kennedy Space Center.
The X-37B program has progressively expanded its capabilities with each mission, hosting various experiments and testing new orbital parameters. This eighth mission continues that progression by incorporating technologies aimed at enhancing space communications and navigation capabilities.
In other recent news, Japan has committed to purchasing 100 Boeing aircraft as part of a new trade framework, according to announcements from both President Donald Trump and the White House. This agreement is part of a broader economic deal between the United States and Japan, which includes a $550 billion investment commitment from Japan to boost American industrial capacity. Additionally, Japan will increase its defense spending with American companies to $17 billion annually, up from the current $14 billion.
Meanwhile, Air India is seeking a $200 million loan to purchase Boeing 777 aircraft from a U.S.-based leasing company. This financial move is being handled by AI Fleet Services IFSC Ltd., a subsidiary of Air India. In other developments, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has stated that the recent Air India Boeing 787 crash was not due to mechanical issues with the Boeing fuel control unit.
Furthermore, President Trump announced a trade agreement with Indonesia, eliminating 99% of tariff barriers for American products entering the Indonesian market. This deal is expected to benefit U.S. automakers, technology companies, and other sectors.
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