"It's very exciting," Eggers said of the 1:16 a.m. PST landing.
X-37B was launched by an Atlas 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, April 22, 2010, for a maximum of 270 days of mission.
Also known as the orbiter test satellite Boeing built originally a NASA project before being acquired by the military.
The Air Force has not said whether she held something in his hold but keeps the mission's main objective was to test the equipment itself.
"Today's bill is the result of a successful mission culminates in close collaboration with 30th Space Wing, Boeing and Air Force Office features fast," said Giese. Eggers said the ship should return to space next year.
Public officials have only a general description of the objectives of the mission: to test the control, navigation, control, thermal protection and independent operation in orbit, return and landing.
However, the ultimate goal of the X-37B and information on the lost ship has remained a mystery, although experts said the probe was designed to accelerate the development of combat systems and weapons systems support.
The trip was long and expensive road project led by NASA and the Pentagon's research arm of development, then the secret of the Air Force Office networks quickly.
Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent on the X-37, but the total current has not been released.
Although the spacecraft mass has been compared to tow the cargo truck, the X-37B is more than a sports car with an equal volume of luggage. Built on the Boeing Co. 's Phantom Works, 11000 pound boat is 9 1 / 2 feet tall and just over 29 feet long and a wingspan of less than 15 meters.
It has two tail fins angled as single vertical stabilizer. Unlike the shuttle was designed as a satellite launch, which is located at the top of the fairing to sacrifice the Atlas V rocket, and is able to use solar panels to provide electricity to the orbit.
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