Elon Musk's private space enterprise SpaceX has launched the US military's most secretive X-37B plan through its hulking Falcon Heavy rocket that returned to the skies.
It launched a mysterious spacecraft for the US military on Thursday evening that will carry out cutting-edge research.
The rocket lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida at 8:07 p.m. ET, carrying the military's uncrewed X-37B space plane that operates autonomously -- to unprecedented altitudes. The launch streamed live on SpaceX's website. The side boosters returned to Earth and safely touched down, media reports said.
It is not clear, however, exactly where the space plane is going. The X-37B's activities in space have fascinated the space community as amateur enthusiasts raced to track its whereabouts and share theories about its activities, CNN reported.
Akin to a miniature NASA space shuttle with the windows blacked out, the reusable and fully autonomous X-37B has been known to carry out research on concepts such as relaying solar energy from space for use back on Earth and studying the effects of radiation on seeds used to grow food, reports said.
And this mission -- the seventh trip to space for an X-37B plane -- promises to be even more intriguing than earlier flights.
BTVM welcomes tiny tot to new academic session
The Bhavans Tripura Vidya Mandir welcomed the tiny tots to the new academic year of the school curricula and held an initiation programme on May 1 last.
TRIPURA: Restriction imposed on sale of petrol, diesel as landslide hits Assam
As a massive landslide at Jatinga in Assam has hit the goods train movement to Tripura, the Tripura has imposed restrictions on sale of petrol and diesel.
Women perform rituals in Kali temple for rain amid heat wave
Amid the intense heat wave, the BJP MLA Antara Deb Sarkar, accompanied by hundreds of women on Wednesday performed rituals at a Kali temple in Sepahijala's Kamalasagar, seeking divine intervention for rains.
Hours after praising BJP nominee, Kunal Ghosh removed as Trinamool state General Secretary
Hours after Trinamool Congress’ state General Secretary Kunal Ghosh showered praises on Tapas Roy, the BJP candidate from Kolkata Uttar Lok Sabha constituency, the ruling party on Wednesday removed Ghosh from the post.
Salman Khan firing case: Accused gun supplier found hanging in Mumbai police lockup, declared dead
In a sensational development, Anuj Thapan, one of the prime accused in the firing at Salman Khan’s home, allegedly committed suicide in a Mumbai Police lockup on Wednesday, officials said.
Secretary of Tripura's prominent club shot dead, one arrested
Durga Prasanna Deb, Secretary of Bharat Ratna Sangha, a leading club and famous social body of Tripura was attacked by five assailants late Tuesday at Usha Bazar. The accused who has been nabbed was identified as Pradyut Dhar Chowdhury.
GST collections scale record high of Rs 2.1 lakh crore in April
The country's gross GST revenue collection for April this year soared to the highest ever level at Rs 2.10 lakh crore, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced on Wednesday.
Govt cuts windfall tax on crude oil, ONGC, OIL India Ltd to gain
The Government has cut the windfall tax on crude oil to Rs 8,400 a metric ton from Rs 9,600 with effect from Wednesday as part of its fortnightly revision.