Updates X-37B atop of Atlas 5 on March 4th 2011

[T.Neo]

This is interesting, considering that one of the limits of the ISS crews rolls is the Soyuz limited orbital life of 200 days, caused by the degradation of the hypergolic propellant.

I think it is probable that the X-37B is used to test long-duration hypergolic propellant, or improved formulas.

Isn't that due to hydrogen peroxide degredation in the landing system?

Spacecraft regularly fly for years or even decades with hypergolic propellants onboard, comsats and space probes for example.

 

[orb]

SPACE.com: Mystery Surrounds Air Force's Secretive X-37B Space Plane Landing Plan

 

[orb]

Discovery News: Secret Military Mini-Shuttle Marks One Year in Orbit:

The military won't say what it has been doing with its experimental miniature space shuttle, but the pilotless spaceship, known as the X-37B, has been in orbit for a year now.

{...}

SPACE.com: Air Force's Mysterious X-37B Space Plane Survives 1 Year in Orbit

Spaceflight Now: U.S. Air Force space plane marks one year in orbit

 

[zerofay32]

Maybe it's stuck up there :lol:
(Just kidding)

 

[Arrowstar]

Happy 1 year anniversary, X-37.

 

[orb]

SPACE.com: Secret Air Force X-37B Space Plane Mission a 'Spectacular Success':

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.

{...}

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.

{...}

 

[MattBaker]

I like that the mission is such a success, also I don't like the fact that it's classified.
But, 430 days, that's longer than any capsule we currently have is designed for. With the studies about a manned X-37 it shows that we can make manned mission durations over one year (with the same spacecraft) possible.

 

[Eccentrus]

so is the shuttle if it isn't manned, people need air, food, and water which severely weights down the operational time of spacecrafts, just look at the ISS, it has to be supplied in a regular interval, if one of those cargo shipping failed, it could jeopardize the entire mission.

 

[orb]

Spaceflight Now: Air Force's mini space shuttle prepares for landing:

After 15 months circling the planet on its clandestine military mission, the Pentagon's miniature space shuttle will be coming back to Earth for a pinpoint touchdown at Vandenberg Air Force Base in the next couple of weeks.

The base, located about 150 miles northwest of Los Angeles, announced Wednesday that preparations are underway to receive the second reusable spaceplane in the "the early- to mid-June timeframe."

The exact landing date and time "will depend on technical and weather considerations," the base said in a statement to reporters.

The Orbital Test Vehicle will use Vandenberg's three-mile-long concrete runway once envisioned to support manned space shuttle landings from polar-orbiting military flights.

"The men and women of Team Vandenberg are ready to execute safe landing operations anytime and at a moment's notice," said Col. Nina Armagno, 30th Space Wing commander.

Operating on a sophisticated autopilot and GPS navigation, the OTV will fire its propulsion system to brake from orbit and plunge through the atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean towards the Air Force installation for a tire-smoking touchdown.

"Space professionals from the 30th Space Wing will monitor the de-orbit and landing of the Air Force's X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle mission, called OTV 2," Vandenberg's statement said.

The base said its crews have conducted extensive, periodic training in preparation for landing.

{...}

Vandenberg Air Force Base: PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY FOR X-37B LANDING

Universe Today: Secretive X-37B Space Plane Will be Landing Soon

Space News: U.S. Air Force Space Plane Landing Targeted for June

SPACE.com: Air Force's Secretive X-37B Space Plane Will Land Soon

Parabolic Arc: USAF: X-37B Coming Home Next Month

Florida Today: Unmanned space plane nears end of secret mission

CBS News Space: Vandenberg AFB preps for X-37B landing

Discovery News: Military's Mini-Shuttle Headed Home

 

[orb]

Universe Today: Secret X-37B Mini Space Shuttle Could Land Today:

After more than a year in orbit, the US Air Force’s clandestine mini-space shuttle will likely land at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California sometime this week, with some reports saying it could land as early as today, Wednesday, June 13, 2012.

{...}

Jeremy Eggers, a spokesman for the 30th Space Wing at Vandenberg was quoted by ABC News that the spacecraft’s first available landing opportunity will be Wednesday, depending on weather and technical conditions. The landing window extends through June 18, but Eggers says any landing is a “day-by-day situation based on the conditions.”

{...}

 

[orb]

SPACE.com: Air Force's Secretive X-37B Space Plane May Land Friday:

{...}

The X-37B spacecraft's landing window opened on June 11 and runs through June 18, with Friday being the next opportunity, Fallin said. The exact nature of the space plane's mission is classified, so aside from a brief May 30 statement announcing the upcoming landing in the mid-June timeframe, Air Force officials have remained mum on re-entry details.

{...}

 

[Lord Wasteland]

Does anyone live in California here? If so, can you guys possibly take some photos of her?

 

[orb]

SPACE.com: Air Force's Secret X-37B Space Plane May Land This Weekend:

A robotic Air Force space plane that has spent more than a year in orbit on a mystery mission is slated to come back down to Earth this weekend, perhaps by Saturday, Air Force officials say.

The Air Force is aiming to land its secret X-37B space plane, which has spent 15 months in space, on Saturday (June 16) at California's Vandenberg Air Force Base. But that timeline is dependent on the weather and other considerations, officials said.

"We continue to monitor weather and technical conditions day by day to ensure conditions are safe for landing," Vandenberg spokesman Jeremy Eggers told SPACE.com via email. "At this time, the next available opportunity is Saturday, dependent upon weather and technical conditions. The landing window extends through June 18."

{...}

 

[mojoey]

Does anyone live in California here? If so, can you guys possibly take some photos of her?

I do, but Vandenburg is a bit far for me, sorry

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

The X-37 eventually slipped off the O-F radar and landed at 5:48 am PDT (12:48 UTC)...

 

[N_Molson]

468 days is a nice record. It means that they have found a propellant that is be reliable over an extended duration. :thumbup:

Also, it seems that the Air Force now masters the unmanned reentry and landing of a winged body. Thats a very interesting technology.

 

[Capt_hensley]

This is so cool. I hope they took releaseable photos of the recovery, like OTV1.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

I'm just waiting for the "Shenzhou 9 must have forced it to land with its space laser" type conspiracy theories. :lol:

 

[orb]

The X-37 eventually slipped off the O-F radar and landed at 5:48 am PDT (12:48 UTC)...

My space radar is usually off when I'm visiting family.


Some more links:

Parabolic Arc: X-37B Space Plane Lands at Vandenberg After Record Mission

SPACE.com: Air Force's Secret X-37B Space Plane Lands in Calif. After Mystery Mission

collectSPACE: Air Force's secret X-37B space plane lands after 15 months circling Earth

Florida Today: Unmanned space plane lands in California

Discovery News: Secret Military Mini-Shuttle Lands in California

CBS News Space: Unmanned Air Force spaceplane lands after secret mission

Universe Today: Top Secret Air Force Mini Shuttle lands after Record-Setting Stay in Space

Aviation Week: Record-Breaking X-37B Completes Second Classified Spaceflight

 

[Keatah]

Amusing, they did an orbit change out of sight of everybody. one moment it's at 209mi and then the next 206mi.

This isn't being used for testing materials. After 60 years of throwing stuff up there, we pretty much know how everything works.