By the time you read this, perhaps the most successful of all spacecraft programs will have returned to earth for the third time after an unprecedented and flawlessly combined 1700 days in orbit with three return trips to our home world before commandeering all of Cape Canaveral.

Yes I am talking about the super classified X-37B.

What we know as the space shuttle program was gross attempt at a 37,000 unique heat shield tile prototype for a reusable heavy lift vehicle. It’s only sustaining grace was the human crew capacity.

A year after the shuttle program was cancelled, the X-37B was into its 2nd test flight of more than 600 days. No humans on board and absolute precision to execute the electronic orders sent to it.

Given that it has a Geo-stationary lift capability greater then the cargo space of any Toyota Pickup truck in production, it kind of makes you wonder how it has been complimenting the NSA (its stated mission during Bush II).

For the curious, it lands tomorrow night at Edwards AFB for the last time before taking over the recently vacated shuttle’s home in Florida.