posted 05-07-2017 11:58 AM               

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.

posted 05-09-2017 02:47 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Hart Sastrowardoyo:
Did they mark where the X-37B stopped at KSC's runway...

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posted 05-09-2017 04:41 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by waa49:
Which "space shuttle" stands near the runway?

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posted 06-06-2017 05:19 PM               

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.

posted 09-07-2017 11:28 AM               

Watch the video to learn more about the Boeing-built X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV).

posted 08-13-2020 12:25 PM               

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.

posted 07-07-2022 12:22 PM               

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!

posted 11-12-2022 10:38 AM               

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.

posted 11-12-2022 02:24 PM            

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.

posted 11-11-2023 10:31 AM               

X-37B Breaks Records, Brings Home Experiments

Boeing and the U.S. Department of the Air Force – which now includes the Space Force – have a long, intertwined history together, enabling the highest priority national defense missions.

The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle represents the pinnacle of that partnership.

Since the X-37B first launched in 2010, Boeing has augmented the reusable spaceplane with more capability, new technology, and pushed the boundaries of what's possible with each ensuing mission.

The orbital test vehicle completed its sixth mission with a successful landing at Kennedy Space Center on November 12, 2022.

It spent more than 900 days on orbit during this mission, breaking its previous endurance record while completing experiments for a number of partners, including NASA, the Naval Research Laboratory, and the Air Force Academy.

It was carrying a service module for the very first time, allowing it to haul more payload. That capability creates more opportunities for partners to run space-based tests, bring the results back to Earth, and derive findings that will benefit important research efforts. Check out this video to learn more!

As the X-37B continues supporting the United Sates efforts to better understand space, with the goal of improving our life on Earth, Boeing continues to invest in technology across its broad portfolio, from the seabed to outer space, to make the world a better place.

posted 12-09-2023 04:13 PM               

Following booster separation, Falcon Heavy's two side boosters will land on SpaceX's Landing Zones 1 and 2 (LZ-1 and LZ-2) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

posted 12-11-2023 07:01 PM               

Standing down from tonight's Falcon Heavy launch due to a ground side issue; vehicle and payload remain healthy. Team is resetting for the next launch opportunity of the USSF-52 mission, which is no earlier than tomorrow night.

posted 12-12-2023 11:53 PM               

SpaceX is currently standing down from a Falcon Heavy launch of USSF-52 to orbit to perform additional system checkouts. The payload remains healthy while teams work toward the next best launch opportunity.

We're also keeping an eye on the weather and will announce a new launch date once confirmed with the Range.

posted 12-28-2023 05:37 PM               

SpaceX's live webcast will begin on X about 15 minutes prior to liftoff.

posted 02-21-2025 08:52 AM               

An X-37B onboard camera, used to ensure the health and safety of the vehicle, captures an image of Earth while conducting experiments in a highly elliptical orbit in 2024.

As part of the X-37B's seventh mission, the vehicle executed a series of first-of-its-kind maneuvers, called aerobraking, to safely change its orbit using minimal fuel.