|
Author
|
Topic: Boeing leases OPFs for X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle
|
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 49413
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 01-04-2014 10:27 AM
   
collectSPACE Boeing to use former space shuttle hangar for secret space planeA former NASA space shuttle hangar will serve as the new home and servicing facility for a fleet of secretive military space planes. The Boeing Company announced on Friday (Jan. 3) it will begin converting Orbiter Processing Facility-1 (OPF-1) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to support the U.S. Air Force X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV). Built by Boeing's Phantom Works, the winged X-37B resembles in some ways a smaller version of NASA's shuttle with a 15-foot (4.5 m.) wingspan. The move to use OPF-1 will "enable the U.S. Air Force to efficiently land, recover, refurbish, and re-launch" the 29-foot-long (8.8 m.), reusable unmanned spacecraft, Boeing officials said in a statement.  |
dabolton
Member Posts: 419
From: Seneca, IL, US
Registered: Jan 2009
|
posted 01-04-2014 11:49 AM
Is there an accessible path/road to move the X-37's over to the cape launch sites? |
Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1745
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
|
posted 01-04-2014 01:18 PM
Payloads, whether coming from the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility or other facilities in the KSC industrial area or from Astrotech in Titusville, go up Kennedy Parkway to Cape Road via Saturn Causeway to get to LC-40, 41, and 37. Payloads do not use the NASA Causeway to cross the Banana River.
|
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 49413
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 06-18-2014 12:15 PM
From Florida Today's James Dean on Twitter: Guess which secret military space program is moving to OPF-1 at KSC?  |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 49413
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 10-08-2014 01:28 PM
NASA release NASA Partners with X-37B Program for Use of Former Space Shuttle HangarsNASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida has entered into an agreement with the U.S. Air Force's X-37B Program for use of the center’s Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) Bays 1 and 2 to process the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle for launch. The OPF bays were last used during NASA’s Space Shuttle Program. With the agency’s transition to the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, the agency currently does not have a mission requirement for the facilities. This agreement ensures the facilities will again be used for their originally-intended purpose -- processing spacecraft. "Kennedy is positioning itself for the future, transitioning to a multi-user launch facility for both commercial and government customers, while embarking on NASA's new deep-space exploration plans," said Kennedy Center Director Robert Cabana. "A dynamic infrastructure is taking shape, designed to host many kinds of spacecraft and rockets." In addition to vehicle preparation for launch, the X-37B Program conducted testing at Kennedy's Shuttle Landing Facility to demonstrate that landing the vehicle at the former shuttle runway is a technically feasible option. The Boeing Company is performing construction upgrades in the OPFs on behalf of the X-37B Program. These upgrades are targeted to be complete in December. |
SpaceCadet1983
Member Posts: 413
From: Pacific NW, United States
Registered: May 2012
|
posted 11-25-2015 01:53 AM
Any update on the status of OPF-1? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 49413
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 11-25-2015 08:15 AM
At its ceremony to mark the opening of OPF-3 in support of CST-100 Starliner production and processing in September, Boeing said that work was continuing on the conversion of OPFs-1 and 2 for the X-37B. As the program is classified, so are the details of the hangars' renovation. |
SpaceCadet1983
Member Posts: 413
From: Pacific NW, United States
Registered: May 2012
|
posted 11-25-2015 03:34 PM
Thanks, Robert. I thought by now the renovations would have been completed. I was surprised by your comment that OPF-2 is also going to be used for the X-37B program. Thanks for the update. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 49413
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 02-16-2016 09:40 AM
From Chris Ferguson on Twitter: One of the last Shuttle artifacts disassembled... OPF 2 access platforms will give way to a new space program.  |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2892
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
|
posted 02-16-2016 02:57 PM
Would love one of those beams, or are they ITAR restricted like the LUT were? |
JBoe
Member Posts: 993
From: Edgewater, MD
Registered: Oct 2012
|
posted 02-16-2016 05:27 PM
Maybe a Winco medallion like the mate/demate medallion?  |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 49413
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 02-17-2016 12:03 PM
Per Boeing, the metal that is removed will be sent for recycling under the direction of Space Florida, the state agency leasing the facility. |
advertisement