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X37b

super-secret experimental Air Force space plane, launches into orbit

X-37B, super-secret experimental Air Force space plane, launches into orbit

An experimental spacecraft rocket from Cape Canaveral Saturday under the cloud of mystery, as Air Force officials maintained tight-lip on the purpose of his mission.

Confidentiality has made some industry analysts to speculate that the X-37B could be a step towards launch a weapon that one day room cripple foreign satellite - or even drop bombs, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Unmanned aircraft, which resembles a plane, is the second Air Force orbit test vehicle of its kind. The first robot plane soared into space on 270-day expedition last spring and landed in California in December.

Air Force officials said the new experimental aircraft will serve as a test platform for satellite sensors and systems and will build on the first mission. But officials have not disclosed the real goal.

"It's a mystery, because the Air Force is being very closed mouth about the program," former Air Force officer Brian Weeden and space security expert told the Los Angeles Times. "This causes people to say," What exactly are they hiding? ""

X-37B yesterday slid the Atlas 5 rocket. The plane is 29-feet long with a wingspan of 15 feet.

1st US unmanned vehicle to return from space and land on its own
CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. — Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced the successful launch of the second-built Boeing X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) for the U.S. Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO). The OTV was launched on the Atlas V rocket into low-Earth orbit at this time 5:46 pm Eastern time from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 41.

"History was made in December when the X-37B became the first unmanned vehicles the United States' to come back from space and landed on his own," said Craig Cooning, vice president and general manager of Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems. "The success of that mission are validated in this way can be reused and effective way to test new technologies in space and return them for inspection.


“Today, we took another important step with the successful launch of the second OTV, enabling the RCO to further experiment with the vehicle and its ability to operate in low-Earth orbit,” Cooning continued. “Close teamwork between the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, the United Launch Alliance Atlas team, and the 45th Space Wing at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station made this launch a success.”

The first OTV was launched in April 2010 and orbited for approximately eight months. In December, it successfully de-orbited and landed at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., where it continues to undergo post-flight evaluation.

The X-37B design combines the best of aircraft and spacecraft design into an affordable, unmanned space-based test platform. Program objectives include space experimentation, risk reduction, and concept-of-operations development for reusable space vehicle technologies.

Boeing’s commitment to this space-based unmanned vehicle spans a decade and includes support to the Air Force Research Lab’s X-40 program, NASA’s X-37 program, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s X-37 Approach, Landing and Test Vehicle program.

Boeing program management, engineering, test and mission support functions for the OTV program are conducted at Boeing sites in Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, and El Segundo, Calif.

Tags: X37b,X-37B super-secret experimental Air Force space plane launches into orbit
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