Launch News X-37B on Atlas V from Cape Canaveral

[bwog]

I thought that that Kennedy Space Center was owned completely by NASA.

 

[Star Voyager]

Centaur MECO and OTV sep. By the look of the launch from here in Tampa, the Atlas V launched on a heading closer to 90 degrees. But that's my visual estimation. Perhaps the traditional 32.55?

bwog: No, NASA owns a portin of the Cape (KSC), as visualized here:

http://www.webstafford.com/KSC/KSC.ht1.jpg

White is NASA KSC, green is CCAFS.

---------- Post added at 08:10 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:08 PM ----------

OTV sep!

 

[Kyle]

Shame we don't have a X-37B OTV-1 addon.

 

[N_Molson]

40 years after the X-20 cancellation, the Air Force has it's own spaceplane into orbit.

 

[Star Voyager]

Shame we don't have a X-37B OTV-1 addon.

We have an X-37 which can be mounted to a 501 Atlas V addon at Avsim:

[nomedia="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=3574"]Boeing X-37[/nomedia]


http://library.avsim.net/sendfile.php?Location=AVSIM&Proto=ftp&DLID=35501

http://library.avsim.net/sendfile.php?Location=AVSIM&Proto=ftp&DLID=34993

---------- Post added at 08:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:26 PM ----------

Some pictures of tonight's launch:

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av012/launch/

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

I missed the launch by 7 minutes!
Do you think the footage will be available as Video On Demand (VOD)?

I think it's already on YouTube somewhere - just search for it!

 

[Andy44]

I thought that that Kennedy Space Center was owned completely by NASA.

Do a google on "Cape Canaveral Air Force Station". Many of the launchpads at the Cape are on Air Force property, "Kennedy Space Center" is the NASA side of the spaceport.

All east-pointing launches in the US are done from the Cape, NASA and USAF.

 

[anemazoso]

All east-pointing launches in the US are done from the Cape, NASA and USAF.

What about Wallops? I know Taurus 2 is planned to launch from there and NASA tested the Apollo heat shield launched on a scout from there but have they had any orbital launches from there in recent years?

 

[Interceptor]

Saw it go up tonight from Titusville,very cool.

 

[tblaxland]

Does anyone know what the orbit size was? (Inclination was 51.6 IIRC...)

 

[DaveS]

Does anyone know what the orbit size was? (Inclination was 51.6 IIRC...)

Inclination was 28.5°. The final orbit is classified.

---------- Post added at 09:05 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:02 AM ----------

What about Wallops? I know Taurus 2 is planned to launch from there and NASA tested the Apollo heat shield launched on a scout from there but have they had any orbital launches from there in recent years?

Yup: Orbital Sciences launches the Minotaur from there. And it is the launch site for their Taurus II which is their CRS LV.

 

[tl8]

Inclination was 28.5°. The final orbit is classified

Until some one works it out, it isn't too hard is it?

 

[DaveS]

Until some one works it out, it isn't too hard is it?

Remember, the X-37B has its own orbital manuevering engine, which means it won't stay in the original post-launch orbit for long. Actual mission duration is also classified along with all the on-orbit activity.

 

[SiberianTiger]

Remember, the X-37B has its own orbital manuevering engine, which means it won't stay in the original post-launch orbit for long. Actual mission duration is also classified along with all the on-orbit activity.

Wow, if the inc wasn't 28.5°, I'd assume they were up for attempting the fabled 'Space Shuttle's diving on Moscow'!

 

[garyw]

Remember, the X-37B has its own orbital manuevering engine, which means it won't stay in the original post-launch orbit for long. Actual mission duration is also classified along with all the on-orbit activity.

What's the delta-v of that engine or is that classified? If we know the delta-v then there are only a limited number of orbits it could move into and conserve prop for an EDW landing.

 

[SiberianTiger]

Independent observers state that the more realistic inclination is 33.5°, despite what's the USAF say.

 

[marcogavazzeni]

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdCpuv9RCwE&feature=player_embedded"]YouTube- Launch X-37B on Atlas V 501[/nomedia]

[nomedia="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=3574"]Boeing X-37[/nomedia]

 

[SiberianTiger]

YouTube- Launch X-37B on Atlas V 501

Switched off the real footage right before the fairing jettison! :lol:

 

[Richy]

Maybe they aren't launching the X-37B, but something different, something that is so secret, they switcht of the footage.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

BBC News: "X-37B military spaceplane launches from Cape Canaveral".

---------- Post added at 01:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:34 PM ----------

Amazing X-37 landing test video (sshh, it's Top Secret)! :lol:

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxJzPngPMo4"]YouTube- X-37 Test Flight B-Roll (No Audio)[/nomedia]