The X-37B, an orbital unmanned spacecraft developed by the U.S. Air Force, has landed safely in Florida after completing its fourth mission, spending nearly two years (718 days) in space, the Air Force said on Sunday. "This mission once again set an on-orbit endurance record and marks the vehicle's first landing in the state of Florida," said Lt. Col. Ron Fehlen, X-37B program manager. Previously, it landed in California. "We are incredibly pleased with the performance of the space vehicle and are excited about the data gathered to support the scientific and space communities." The Air Force has released little information about what the X-37B has been doing during its time in space, saying only that it "performs risk reduction, experimentation and concept of operations development for reusable space vehicle technologies." On its approach to land just before 8 a.m. Sunday morning, the plane generated a sonic boom that startled locals, CNN reported.
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