It was the eighth flight of a X-37B, which was designed for the US Air Force by Boeing. It is set to test laser communications and navigation without the use of GPS.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched Thursday night, carrying a classified US military spaceplane into orbit.

It was the eighth flight of an X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle. No one was on board the rocket, which launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Space Force not disclosing length of mission

The X-37B, built by Boeing, is an uncrewed and autonomous spacecraft employed by the US military to test technology and conduct experiments in both high and low Earth orbits.

“These operational demonstrations and experiments comprise next-generation technologies, including laser communications and the highest-performing quantum inertial sensor ever tested in space,” the US Space Force said in July.

“Mission 8 will contribute to improving the resilience, efficiency and security of US space-based communications architectures,” it added.

Previous X-37B space drones have carried out missions for months or years Image: Jennifer Briggs/ZUMA/picture alliance

It is unclear how long the mini shuttle will remain in orbit. On a previous mission, the drone circled Earth for more than a year before returning in March.

Powered by solar panels, the reusable space planes were first launched in 2010. They measure 30 feet (nine meters) long with a 15-foot wingspan.

Edited by: Louis Oelofse