Launch News X-37B OTV-3, Atlas V 501, December 11, 2012

[orb]

 

[boogabooga]

Comet 2012 XB37 and the Centaur Nebula.

 

[Capt_hensley]

What are the two posts above supposed to mean?
Is OTV-3 still in orbit?

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

What are the two posts above supposed to mean?
Is OTV-3 still in orbit?

Oh yes of course, in fact satellite observers have been observing it through binoculars during the past few days. The one thing that got de-orbited is the Centaur upper stage.

 

[orb]

SPACE.com: US Military's Robot Space Plane Settles Into Mystery Mission:

The U.S. Air Force's mysterious X-37B space plane is quietly chalking up mileage in space more than two months after its latest launch into orbit.

{...}

While little is known regarding what OTV-3 is toting in its cargo bay, amateur skywatchers offer some insight into the mission.

"All does seem quiet," said Ted Molczan of Toronto, a leader in an ever-vigilant, worldwide satellite sleuthing network.

"OTV-3 remains in its initial orbit, maintaining altitude with periodic engine firings," Molczan told SPACE.com. "Unlike the first two missions, its ground track does not closely repeat at the frequent intervals that would suggest an imaging reconnaissance mission."

{...}

 

[RonDVouz]

So the USAF's mystery space plane is supposed to return today

Was this supposed to be a secret?

They sure did suck at keeping it one.

Anyway, it's supposed to come back today but the Air Force will of course neither confirm or deny that, so thankfully we have every news outlet in the western hemisphere to do that for us. :lol:

http://www.space.com/27411-x37b-military-space-plane-landing.html

http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/13/us/air-force-space-plane/index.html

http://news.yahoo.com/secretive-x-37b-military-space-plane-could-land-132030466.html

http://www.popsci.com/article/technology/secret-robot-space-plane-returns-earth-today

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/top-sec...ace-plane-could-land-in-california-this-week/

http://www.ibtimes.com/us-air-force...n-record-22-month-long-covert-mission-1703755


Some secret. :rofl:

 

[Pipcard]

The vehicle itself wasn't the secret, but its mission was.

 

[MaverickSawyer]

Oh, it's no secret it exists. It's the payload that's secret.

 

[Ghostrider]

It's the payload that's secret.

It's an update of Project Scoop and is carrying the Andromeda Strain.

We're all gonna die.

 

[Codz]

It isn't a secret. They televised the launch.

 

[RonDVouz]

But you gotta admit, it defeats the purpose.

 

[Codz]

But you gotta admit, it defeats the purpose.

How?

 

[Fabri91]

It's an update of Project Scoop and is carrying the Andromeda Strain.

We're all gonna die.

Oh come on, be an optimist!

We're all gonna die, eventually!

 

[barrygolden]

Hey does anybody have an auto pilot to use to land the X37B at VBG and someone should work on some payloads for this thing

 

[IronRain]

Third X-37B returns home after nearly two years in space

 

[IronRain]

source: Spaceflightnow.com

 

[Thunder Chicken]

I can't help but watch that video and think "Boy, that thing needs a cockpit with windows". It will probably never happen (like DreamChaser), but gosh, wouldn't that be a fun ride?

 

[MattBaker]

but gosh, wouldn't that be a fun ride?

675 days in a cramped space? I don't know...

 

[Notebook]

BBC article

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-29669205

N.