Posted on 10/27/2019 11:15:29 AM PDT by BenLurkin
The Air Force’s X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle Mission 5 successfully landed at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility Oct. 27, 2019 at 3:51 a.m.
The spaceplane conducted on-orbit experiments for 780 days during its mission, recently breaking its own record by being in orbit for more than two years. As of today, the total number of days spent on-orbit for the entire test vehicle program is 2,865 days.
“The X-37B continues to demonstrate the importance of a reusable spaceplane,” said Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett. “Each successive mission advances our nation’s space capabilities.”
This is the Air Force’s premier reusable and unmanned spacecraft, providing the performance and flexibility to improve technologies in a way that allows scientists and engineers to recover experiments tested in a long-duration space environment.
“The safe return of this spacecraft, after breaking its own endurance record, is the result of the innovative partnership between Government and Industry,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein. “The sky is no longer the limit for the Air Force and, if Congress approves, the U.S. Space Force.”
Managed by the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, the X-37B program performs risk reduction, experimentation and concept of operations development for reusable space vehicle technologies.
“This program continues to push the envelope as the world’s only reusable space vehicle. With a successful landing today, the X-37B completed its longest flight to date and successfully completed all mission objectives,” said Randy Walden, Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office director. “This mission successfully hosted Air Force Research Laboratory experiments, among others, as well as providing a ride for small satellites.”
The distinctive ability to test new systems in space and return them to Earth is unique to the X-37B program and enables the U.S. to more efficiently and effectively develop space capabilities necessary to maintain superiority in the space domain.
“This spacecraft is a key component of the space community. This milestone demonstrates our commitment to conducting experiments for America’s future space exploration,” said Lt. Col. Jonathan Keen, X-37B program manager. “Congratulations to the X-37B team for a job well done.”
This will be the second time the X-37B landed at the Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility--Mission 4 landed after 718 days in orbit. The spaceplane was designed for an on-orbit duration of 270 days.
“Today marks an incredibly exciting day for the 45th Space Wing,” said Brig. Gen. Doug Schiess, 45th Space Wing commander. “Our team has been preparing for this event, and I am extremely proud to see their hard work and dedication culminate in today’s safe and successful landing of the X-37B.”
The fifth mission launched on Sept. 7, 2017 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida on-board a Space X Falcon 9 booster, and the U.S. Air Force is preparing to launch the sixth X-37B mission from CCAFS in 2020.
Editor's note: For more imagery, visit our X-37B feature page: https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/X37BOTV
Looks like the shuttle went through the chop shop for sure.
Soooo, what exactly does it do for 780 days in space, hmmm?
This mission was almost complete.
We would have not had full real-time communications.
Nothing! Nothing at all, just takes a few postcard pictures, that's all. Maybe drops off a few titanium rods orbiting Mecca with a nice note "Love and kisses from the USA! XOXOXO DJT" on them. Tourist stuff, knowwhumsayin'?
>>Looks like the shuttle went through the chop shop for sure.<<
Someone should Photoshop it up on blocks with no wheels ;) :)
I wonder if China/Russia telescopes track with real-time video. Probably orient the shuttle bay toward space.
https://www.airspacemag.com/space/spaceplane-x-37-180957777/
“I think the clue is how low an orbit [the X-37B] is in,” says Weeden. The spaceplane is orbiting at an altitude of about 320 kilometers (a little under 200 miles), which is lower than the International Space Station. Low orbits require more maneuvering, and therefore more fuel, to maintain. And fuel adds weight. “One of the reasons that the traditional exquisite imaging satellites are so hard to launch is because they’re big and they’re heavy,” says Weeden. Hall thrusters could enable lighter, cheaper reconnaissance satellites to be orbited.
Read more at https://www.airspacemag.com/space/spaceplane-x-37-180957777/#mSOxxEGQtwKaCTWV.99
>>Soooo, what exactly does it do for 780 days in space, hmmm?<<
Sing “1,347,840 Bottles of Beer on the Wall. ((780 days X 24 hours X 60 minutes X 60 seconds) divided by 5 seconds per verse — check my math)
Originally, it was scheduled for a three hour cruise.
“Soooo, what exactly does it do for 780 days in space, hmmm?”
I would guess that the main purpose of the test, beyond the obvious checkouts of systems was to try to see if it could move around up there (change orbits) without being immediately detected. If it can, it could sneak up on enemy satellites and learn a lot about them.
... Soooo, what exactly does it do for 780 days in space, hmmm?
None of your d.mn business
Shut up and eat your peas
Ummmm, no. The military already has global real time comms everywhere on the surface whether the X37 is there or not.
In fact, you can even get the same general capability on the commercial market. Iridium phones, among other things.
That would be a big fat ‘no’. There is no stealth in space and the X-37B was tracked in real time for every second it was up in orbit - using commercial, private sector tech, no less. See for yourself:
Private space flight has made real time tracking of everything in orbit a necessity.
The GSV due in this sector over a year ago was delayed by the threat of another Affront uprising and could not get close enough to displace its cargo until a day or so ago. They promise to have a backup plan in case something else unforeseen crops up. The USAF breathed a sigh of relief at the news.
Lol, one advantage to being older is getting obscure reference jokes.
The X37B is the second in a line of about 5 I think. They are going to scale them up with each model. E model is supposed to carry like 20 passengers or cargo.
It would be neat if they are flying this to the moon and back every couple weeks. It could be useful when building a moon base or bigger space station.
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