Posts: 50951 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-07-2017 11:58 AM
U.S. Air Force videos
The Air Force's X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle mission 4 landed at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility May 7, 2017. Managed by the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, the X-37B program is the newest and most advanced re-entry spacecraft that performs risk reduction, experimentation and concept of operations development for reusable space vehicle technologies.
Hart Sastrowardoyo Member
Posts: 3466 From: Toms River, NJ Registered: Aug 2000
posted 05-08-2017 05:37 PM
Did they mark where the X-37B stopped at KSC's runway (as they did with shuttle) or would the rollout distance somehow give away some classified performance data?
posted 05-09-2017 02:18 AM
Which "space shuttle" stands near the runway? Any information available?
SpaceCadet1983 Member
Posts: 452 From: Pacific NW, United States Registered: May 2012
posted 05-09-2017 02:47 AM
quote:Originally posted by Hart Sastrowardoyo: Did they mark where the X-37B stopped at KSC's runway...
Interesting question, Hart. I don't believe the marker(s) would give away any classified performance data. I ran across these two pictures of OTV-1 touchdown and full stop runway markers made to commemorate the X-37B's first landing at VAFB. It would be interesting to see if any show up on the runway at KSC.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 50951 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-09-2017 04:41 AM
quote:Originally posted by waa49: Which "space shuttle" stands near the runway?
That is "Inspiration," the full-size mockup orbiter that for years sat outside the (now former) U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in Titusville. See the discussion here.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 50951 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-09-2017 04:54 AM
U.S. Air Force photos
oly Member
Posts: 1456 From: Perth, Western Australia Registered: Apr 2015
posted 05-09-2017 08:15 AM
There seems to be a new piece of equipment mounted on the aft end since the last flight.
SpaceCadet1983 Member
Posts: 452 From: Pacific NW, United States Registered: May 2012
posted 05-09-2017 12:48 PM
Could it be the Hall-effect thruster, or the rumored EmDrive?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 50951 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 06-06-2017 05:19 PM
The U.S. Air Force's X-37B OTV-5 mission will launch atop a SpaceX Falcon 9, reports Reuters.
Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corp will fly its first mission for the U.S. Air Force in August when it launches the military’s X-37B miniature spaceplane, Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said on Tuesday.
Four previous X-37B missions were launched by United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rockets.
"SpaceX will be sending the next Air Force payload up into space in August," Wilson said during webcast testimony before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee. She later specified that the payload would be one of the Air Force’s two X-37B spaceplanes.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 50951 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-07-2017 11:28 AM
Boeing video
Watch the video to learn more about the Boeing-built X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV).
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 50951 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 08-13-2020 12:25 PM
Boeing release
US Department of the Air Force-Boeing X-37B Team Wins Collier Trophy for Aerospace Excellence
The U.S. Department of the Air Force and Boeing X-37B autonomous spaceplane is receiving the prestigious Robert J. Collier Trophy for the greatest American achievements in aeronautics and astronautics of 2019. The X-37B set a new 780-day on-orbit endurance record and completed an overflight of the United States, using Federal Aviation Administration airspace, before making a pinpoint landing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
The National Aeronautic Association is awarding the 2019 Collier to the X-37B for advancing the performance, efficiency and safety of air and space vehicles.
Designed and built by Boeing, operated in partnership with the U.S. Space Force, and managed by the U.S. Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, the X-37B is a reliable, reusable, uncrewed space test platform designed to carry experiments to orbit and return them to Earth for evaluation.
"Underscoring the importance of space to the nation, the Collier Trophy celebrates the record-setting mission of the X-37B," said Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett. "Most Americans use space daily for navigation, information, and communication. Sophisticated and uncrewed, the X-37B advances reusable spaceplane technologies and operates experiments in space that are returned for further examination on Earth."
In addition, Boeing facilitates the integration of experiments into the X-37B system and helps identify future reusable-platform experiment opportunities for each mission. X-37B is the 33rd Boeing effort to receive a Collier.
"We are truly honored that the women and men of the X-37B team are being recognized with the Collier Trophy," said Boeing Defense, Space & Security President and CEO Leanne Caret. "Not only have they earned a place among our industry's legends through their commitment to innovation and performance, but their accomplishments will influence the next generation of space and aerospace development for the benefit of all humanity."
In 2019, the spaceplane broke its own on-orbit endurance record of 718 days. The program has logged more than 2,865 days and travelled more than 1 billion miles on-orbit in total. Originally designed for missions of 270 days, the X-37B has set endurance records during each of its five previous flights. Its first mission launched in 2010.
This is the ninth Collier Trophy shared by the U.S Department of the Air Force and its forerunners, and Boeing and its legacy companies. Prior shared wins include iconic air and space achievements like the B-52, X-15, Global Positioning System and the C-17 Globemaster III.
First awarded in 1911, the trophy's past recipients include Orville Wright; the Apollo 11 lunar landing team; the International Space Station, built by Boeing for NASA; the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, built by Boeing for the U.S. Navy; and the Boeing 787, 777 and 747 commercial airplanes.
SpaceCadet1983 Member
Posts: 452 From: Pacific NW, United States Registered: May 2012
posted 08-13-2020 05:11 PM
Outstanding! Well deserved!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 50951 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 07-07-2022 12:22 PM
From Boeing (via Twitter):
781 days and counting!
The world's only reusable spaceplane, X-37B, has set another endurance record — as it has on every mission since it first launched in 2010. Congratulations to the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force and all our teammates who support X-37B! Semper Supra!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 50951 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-12-2022 09:28 AM
There are unconfirmed reports this morning (Nov. 12) that OTV-6 has returned to Earth after 909 days in space. Multiple people (on Twitter) reported hearing sonic booms in the vicinity of the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 50951 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-12-2022 10:38 AM
Confirmed. From the U.S. Space Force:
The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle-6 (OTV-6), the U.S. Space Force's unmanned, reusable spaceplane, successfully deorbited and landed at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility on Nov. 12, 2022, at 05:22 a.m. EST.
The sixth mission conducted on-orbit experiments for 908 days.
MSS Member
Posts: 1021 From: Europe Registered: May 2003
posted 11-12-2022 02:24 PM
Total duration of this OTV-6 flight is 908 days 21 hours and 8 minutes.
OTV-6 was the first mission to introduce a service module — a ring attached to the rear of the vehicle expanding the number of experiments that can be hosted during a mission.
It can be seen at below photo:
SpaceCadet1983 Member
Posts: 452 From: Pacific NW, United States Registered: May 2012
posted 11-12-2022 05:48 PM
Finally, a photo of the X-37B OTV-6 Service Module! Kind of anticlimactic.
SpaceCadet1983 Member
Posts: 452 From: Pacific NW, United States Registered: May 2012
posted 08-26-2023 04:42 PM
Anyone hear any rumblings about the next USSF X-37B OTV launch?