Second Boeing X-37B mission reaches orbit

[Lankan Ranger]

Second Boeing X-37B mission reaches orbit

The second Boeing X-37B orbital test vehicle (OTV-2) launched into space on 5 March, riding atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from space launch complex-41 in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The flight is a follow-up to the 270-day mission of the OTV-1 that ended on 3 December, with the spacecraft de-orbiting and landing at Vandenberg AFB, California.

US Air Force officials have declined to answer questions about whether any payloads have intended to be tested or deployed with either OTV-1 or OTV-2.

Instead, the USAF has confirmed both spacecraft are being used to understand the flight characteristics of the X-37B. A statement released after the launch of OTV-2 adds the spacecraft will be tested for landing in higher winds after it de-orbits in several months.

"We'll also be looking at the performance of its advanced thermal protection systems and tiles, solar power systems and environmental modelling," LtCol Troy Giese, X-37B program manager, says in a statement.

The X-37B launches come under the rapid capabilities office, and are officially described as aimed at demonstrating a reusable, unmanned testbed for orbital missions.

The latest mission will enable enable the capabilities office to "further experiment with the vehicle and its ability to operate in low-Earth orbit," says Craig Cooning, vice president and general manager of Boeing space and intelligence systems.

The latest mission involved launching from the Atlas 501 rocket configuration, which includes a 5.1m-diameter payload fairing. The RD AMROSS RD-180 engine served as the booster, with the Centaur upper stage bowered by the Pratt & Whitney RL-10A engine.

Second X-37B mission reaches orbit

 

[Rod of God]

Secret Air Force X-37B space plane mission a 'spectacular success'
By Leonard David
Published May 08, 2012
Space.com

NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center image shows on-orbit functions for the reusable X-37 space plane, now under the wing of the U.S. Air Force. (NASA/MSFC)

The U.S. Air Force's secretive robotic X-37B space plane mission continues to chalk up time in Earth orbit, nearing 430 days of a spaceflight that — while classified — appears to be an unqualified success.

The space plane now circuiting Earth is the second spacecraft of its kind built for the Air Force by Boeing’s Phantom Works. Known as the Orbital Test Vehicle 2, or OTV-2, the space plane's classified mission is being carried out by the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office.

The robotic X-37B space plane is a reusable spacecraft that resembles a miniature space shuttle. The Air Force launched the OTV-2 mission on March 5, 2011, with an unmanned Atlas 5 rocket lofting the space plane into orbit from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

Spectacular success

General William Shelton, commander of Air Force Space Command, briefly saluted the high-flying X-37B space plane on April 17 during his remarks at the 28th National Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colo.

"Our second X-37 test vehicle has been on orbit for 409 days now" — much longer than the 270 day baseline design specifications, Shelton said. "Although I can't talk about mission specifics, suffice it to say this mission has been a spectacular success," he added. [Photos: The X-37B Space Plane's Second Mission]

In a follow-up meeting with reporters, Shelton told SPACE.com: "It's doing wonderful." When asked specifically about when the craft will be brought back down to Earth, Shelton's response was guarded.

"When we're through with it … it's going great," Shelton said.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Tracy Bunko, the Pentagon's spokesperson for the X-37B project, told SPACE.com that the space plane's current mission "is still on track … and still ongoing."

Bunko said that a third flight of an X-37B spacecraft — slated for liftoff this fall — will use the same craft that flew the first test flight, the OTV-1 mission, back in 2010. That maiden voyage of the X-37B space plane lasted 225 days. It launched into orbit on April 22, 2010, and then landed on Dec. 3, zooming in on autopilot over the Pacific Ocean and gliding down onto a specially prepared runway at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

Return on investment

Each X-37B space plane is about 29 feet (8.8 meters) long and 15 feet (4.5 meters) wide. It has a payload bay about the size of a pickup truck bed and is outfitted with a deployable solar array power system.

What isn't known about these space vehicles is the nature of the payloads they carry. What purposes they serve is classified.

Last March in a Washington, D.C., briefing with reporters, Shelton advised that the winged, reusable robot plane is a vehicle the U.S. Air Force wants to keep using. But there is currently no go-ahead to add space planes (beyond the two already built) that would increase the fleet size, he said.

When the second X-37B cruised by its one-year milestone in orbit in March, Lt. Col. Tom McIntyre of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office lauded the spacecraft's endurance run.

"We are very pleased with the results of ongoing X-37B experiments. The X-37B program is setting the standard for a reusable space plane and, on this one-year orbital milestone, has returned great value on the experimental investment," McIntyre said. "Upon completion of all objectives, we look forward to bringing the mission to a safe, successful conclusion."

Skywatchers on alert

According to Ted Molczan, a Toronto-based leader in a network of amateur skywatchers that keep an eye on the whereabouts of spacecraft, the X-37B/OTV-2 has maintained its orbit since mid-August of last year.

Last observed on April 22 by fellow skywatcher Greg Roberts of South Africa, the craft was in a 42.8 degree, 332 kilometer by 341 kilometer orbit, Molczan told SPACE.com.

"It makes frequent small maneuvers to maintain that altitude against the significant atmospheric drag that is present. That orbit causes its ground track to repeat nearly precisely every two days," Molczan added.

"Ground tracks that repeat at intervals of two, three, or four days, have long been favored for U.S. imagery intelligence satellites, so this may be a clue to the mission of OTV-2," Molczan said.

Scaled-up X-37B space planes planned?

An intriguing sidelight to the X-37 program is whether or not Boeing's Phantom Works is keen on using the spacecraft for other, nonmilitary missions, or even upgrading the X-37 space plane concept for human spaceflight.

Last year at Space 2011, a conference organized by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), an X-37B derivatives plan was sketched out by Arthur Grantz, chief engineer, Experimental Systems Group at Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems (S&IS) in Seal Beach, Calif.

Grantz detailed a vision for the spacecraft and scaled-up versions to support space station cargo deliveries and even carry astronauts into orbit.

At the one-year milestone of the now orbiting X-37B, SPACE.com contacted Boeing for more information on Grantz and his view on use of X-37B evolving to support the International Space Station.

"That AIAA presentation was a one-time event and we are not saying anything more publicly about the X-37B," said Diana Ball of Boeing’s S&IS Communications in a response to SPACE.com. "Sorry we cannot help you out this time."



NICE !!!

 

[Safriz]

not a secret from PDF.......

 

[The SC]

Here is the key word: A reusable spacecraft (Satellite)

 

[Wright]

It is for the air force.

 

[Rod of God]

Here is the key word: A reusable spacecraft (Satellite)

That's 4 words.

If the U.S. is telling the world about this, then they have something even BADDER that they don't tell us about. I wish they'd keep MORE stuff hidden.

 

[gambit]

That's 4 words.

If the U.S. is telling the world about this, then they have something even BADDER that they don't tell us about. I wish they'd keep MORE stuff hidden.

I disagree. When Raygun said that the US will proceed with the 'Star Wars' ballistic missile defense, all he did was revealed the general idea. What terrified the Soviets were the technical details involved in the engineering. Sure, the engineering problems were formidable but the Soviets knew that if anyone could at least accomplish the initial development successes of ballistic missile defense, it would be US, not them. So there is no need to keep projects hidden, just the details of those projects secrets will do.

 

[Rod of God]

Unless it gets us something, I don't see the need to let 'cats' out of bags'.

 

[Barrack-Obummer]

I disagree. When Raygun said that the US will proceed with the 'Star Wars' ballistic missile defense, all he did was revealed the general idea. What terrified the Soviets were the technical details involved in the engineering. Sure, the engineering problems were formidable but the Soviets knew that if anyone could at least accomplish the initial development successes of ballistic missile defense, it would be US, not them. So there is no need to keep projects hidden, just the details of those projects secrets will do.

Spot on everytime gambit . Think about it, the soviets know we are the technological innovators. These little technological feats are just to show off in the scientific race. I dont know if it has any real effect on things like negotiation and such, but they must at least have it in the back of their mind.

 

[The SC]

That's 4 words.

If the U.S. is telling the world about this, then they have something even BADDER that they don't tell us about. I wish they'd keep MORE stuff hidden.

You misread me again it is satellite.

 

[The SC]

Unless it gets us something, I don't see the need to let 'cats' out of bags'.

You have no choice, the majority of the scientists are foreigners or of foreign origins, so you are doomed, but thanks for the facilities.
Everyone knows how much the majority of north Americans hate studying sciences and how brain lazy they are, abusing yourselves in drugs and sex and even food with witch you managed to create a new disease called obesity, don't you think it affects your minds.
And you think that highly intelligent people like you that much, or want to get rid of you by sending you to wars all over the place for a challenge.
Now, look what have happened to your economy, did your best people in the senate the congress or the pentagon ever thought about it, and where can an alcoholic white supremacist who didn't even master his mother thong become a president apart from/in The US .

 

[Secur]

Global Prompt Strike , right ?

 

[LeGenD]

Global Prompt Strike , right ?

Something like that.

 

[Rod of God]

You have no choice, the majority of the scientists are foreigners or of foreign origins, so you are doomed, but thanks for the facilities.
Everyone knows how much the majority of north Americans hate studying sciences and how brain lazy they are, abusing yourselves in drugs and sex and even food with witch you managed to create a new disease called obesity, don't you think it affects your minds.
And you think that highly intelligent people like you that much, or want to get rid of you by sending you to wars all over the place for a challenge.
Now, look what have happened to your economy, did your best people in the senate the congress or the pentagon ever thought about it, and where can an alcoholic white supremacist who didn't even master his mother thong become a president apart from/in The US .

"SNIFF, SNIFF'. Is that the scent of bitter, cry-baby jealousy I smell ? Oh !! It MUST BE, it's "The SC".

 

[The SC]

Jealousy is a low life emotion of yours, you are distinguished for having and showing it all over the globe.

Who can believe in a Just America, which no longer exists. Or did it exist at any time?

I told you the truth in post #10, but obviously you can not digest it.

The SC