X-37B lands after more than two years on orbit

The Air Force's secretive X-37B spaceplane landed Sunday at NASA's Kennedy Space Center after a record-breaking 780 days on orbit.

This was the spacecraft's fifth mission, launching two years ago from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Mission 4 landed after 718 days. The spacecraft was originally designed to stay on orbit for 270 days.

The X-37B's mission is largely classified. Managed by the Air Force rapid capabilities office, the service uses it for experimentation and prototyping to reduce risk for future space programs.

"The distinctive ability to test new systems in space and return them to Earth is unique to the X-37B program and enables the U.S. to more efficiently and effectively develop space capabilities necessary to maintain superiority in the space domain," the service said in an Oct. 27 press release.

RCO director Randall Walden told reporters Oct. 24, following an Air Force Association breakfast, that the spacecraft hosted small satellites and met all its mission objectives. He said the service hasn't decided whether it will replace the system or pursue a follow-on program.