The Boeing X-37 spaceplane will be carried in the payload bay of the Space Shuttle in 2002 on the first of two planned flights to demonstrate reusable launch vehicle technologies. The X-37 will be deployed from the Shuttle to make an autonomous orbital mission lasting up to 21 days before re-entering the Earth's atmosphere. The X-37 will later also be launched on expendable vehicles and will test new, high temperature thermal protection systems and storable non-toxic propellants.
Source: Flight International
