US Air Force's mysterious mini-space shuttle set to land at California base

Washington, June 13 (ANI): United States Air Force's mysterious mini-space shuttle is set to land at the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California sometime this week, after spending more than a year in orbit.

Measuring 29 feet in length and having a 15-foot wingspan, the unmanned re-usable X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle looks like a miniature version of NASA's now retired space shuttles.

According to ABC News, the reusable spacecraft went into orbit on March 5, 2011, but as was the case during its first launch in 2010, very little has been known about its mission or what payloads it might be carrying because its missions are classified, which has led to speculation that the spacecraft is involved in intelligence gathering operations or the testing of new technologies.

Jeremy Eggers, a spokesman for the 30th Space Wing at Vandenberg said that although the landing window extends through June 18, but any landing is a "day-by-day situation based on the conditions."

Designed to stay in extended Earth orbits, the X-37B remained in orbit for 225 days during its maiden mission in 2010. (ANI)