In Photos: SpaceX Launches X-37B Space Plane, Lands Falcon 9 Rocket

SpaceX Launches X-37B

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the U.S. Air Force's X-37B space plane into orbit on Sept. 7, 2017. The robotic spacecraft will conduct its fifth secret mission for the military while in orbit. This mission,

Meet the X-37B

This stock image of the X-37B shows how it would look inside a payload fairing.

A Cloudy Sky

SpaceX launched the X-37B mission just days ahead of the expected arrival of Hurricane Irma in the Florida area. Early forecasts called for a 50-percent chance that bad weather would prevent a launch.

The X-37B in Orbit

The X-37B space plane uses solar panels to provide power during its long missions in Earth orbit.

Smooth Ascent

Any weather fears evaporated during the countdown as conditions were clear for the Sept. 7 launch. Here the Falcon 9 soars into orbit from Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

How the X-37B Works

The U.S. Air Force's robotic X-37B space plane is a miniature space shuttle capable of long, classified missions in orbit. See how the X-37B space plane works in this Space.com infographic.

Liftoff!

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket lifted off on Sept. 7 at 10 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT) from historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida.

SpaceX X-37B Mission Logo

SpaceX's mission emblem for the Falcon 9 rocket launching the X-37B space plane for the U.S. Air Force.

Farewell, X-37B...For Now

The Sept. 7 liftoff marked the fifth flight of an X-37B space plane. The Air Force has two of the reusable space planes.

Falcon 9 Takes to the Skies

In this view of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Falcon 9 and X-37B launch straight through a cloud and into a blue sky.

Reaching 'Max Q'

About 1 minute and 20 seconds after launch, the Falcon 9 rocket passed through the region of maximum dynamic pressure, or "Max Q," where the aerodynamic force in front of the rocket is at its strongest.