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Phoenix666 [soylentnews.org] writes:

The U.S. Air Force's X-37B space plane [space.com] is just eight days away from setting a record on its current clandestine mission [space.com].

If the robotic vehicle stays aloft until March 25, it will break the X-37B mission-duration mark of 674 days, which was established back in October 2014 [space.com].

It's unclear whether that will actually happen, however; the Air Force is tight-lipped about most X-37B payloads and activities, including touchdown plans. [The X-37B's Fourth Mystery Mission in Photos [space.com]]

"The landing date will be determined based on the completion of the program's on-orbit demonstrations and objectives for this mission," Capt. AnnMarie Annicelli, an Air Force spokeswoman, told Space.com via email when asked when the current mission might end.

Footage from the mission [youtube.com], dubbed "Operation Crossbow," was leaked.

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