The X-37B, the Air Force's new unmanned space plane scheduled to launch Thursday, will test a new batch of reusable technologies, including new silica re-entry tiles, as well as "other technologies that are sort of one generation beyond the shuttle," one program official said.

High-tech stuff. Unfortunately, it won't come close to McChord Field. The craft is scheduled to land at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., when it completes the mission. 

Read more about the craft and its mission here.