Washington: A Boeing-made X-37B vessel, launched by SpaceX in 2023, has successfully returned to Earth after spending 434 days in orbit conducting mysterious tests.

The spacecraft landed at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Friday morning, marking the seventh successful test flight of the X-37B.

According to the US Space Force (USSF), the mission aimed to exercise the ship's rapid ability to launch and recover its systems across multiple sites. The X-37B's prolonged orbital flight tested its "space domain awareness technology" through various experiments, showcasing its flexibility in accomplishing test objectives across different orbital regimes.

The spacecraft demonstrated its ability to change orbits using atmospheric drag to slow down, preserving fuel and enabling the extended mission duration.

This achievement underscores the USSF's commitment to pushing the boundaries of novel space operations in a safe and responsible manner.

Space Force officials hailed the successful test as a "significant milestone" in the agency's mission to create a versatile, reusable, and sustainable fleet.