Secret Air Force space plane mission a 'success'

[Hum]

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.

The space plane now circuiting Earth is the second spacecraft of its kind built for the Air Force by Boeing?s Phantom Works. Known as the Orbital Test Vehicle 2, or OTV-2, the space plane's classified mission is being carried out by the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office.

The robotic X-37B space plane is a reusable spacecraft that resembles a miniature space shuttle. The Air Force launched the OTV-2 mission on March 5, 2011, with an unmanned Atlas 5 rocket lofting the space plane into orbit from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

"Our second X-37 test vehicle has been on orbit for 409 days now" ? much longer than the 270 day baseline design specifications, Shelton said. "Although I can't talk about mission specifics, suffice it to say this mission has been a spectacular success," he added.

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[DocM]

OTV-1 has been refurbished and s due to go up again later this year. An analysis of OTV-2's orbits, which can be changed by its OMS thrusters, have shown it to be spening a lot of time over the Middle East.

The OTV's are also considered to be testbeds for developing procedures for a larger military spaceplane, either a derivation of this design or perhaps of Dream Chaser.

[HawkMan]

And what's the purpose of leaving it up there. wouldn't testing of repeated launched and landing be more important than time in space?

[DocM]

This is an experimental military bird, so they're pushing its limits. On-orbit endurance under solar power tests many things including the panels, rechargeable battery life, power system, orbital maneuverability,the navs, fuel requirements, the autonomous systems etc. This doesn't even count the payload(s), which we can probably assume are intel related.

Pics if OTV-1

[AMPSV]

Cool

[+John. Subscriber¹]

Very cool. I like to keep up to date on these things but wasn't aware it spent that long up there! Good stuff!

[moloko]

Cool stuff. glad this is happening but would like to see more private business up there too.

[Dotdot]

Interesting indeed

[Hum]

I guess the secret's out ... :shiftyninja:

[Arachno 1D]

It could also be practising many things such as capture techniques on orbital devices.

Any idea on crew compliment?

[DocM]

The OTV's are robotic only, but the follow-on would likely be crew-optional. They could develop something new, but the proposed specs for the upgrade almost perfectly match satellite manufacturer Sierra Nevada's NASA CCDev-2 commercial crew entry - the Dream Chaser. DC starts atmospheric test flights with captive carry flights under Virgin Galactic's White Knight 2 mothership in the next few weeks, culminating with drop-glides to robotic landings by the end of this summer. It's launcher agnostic, meaning that with a physical adapter it could fly on most any launcher capable of lifting it. Test flights will be on an Atlas V.

Dream Chaser specs -

Crew: 0-7

Type: lifting body (fuselage also produces lift, not just the winglets)

Construction: carbon composite pressure vessel and aeroshell, which allows special versions to be rapidly prototyped. Adaptable to servicing missions by adding a Shuttle-style cargo bay door, a bulkhead, small robotic arm and an airlock - already being discussed.

Length: 30 feet

Mass: 7.8 metric tons

Engines: 2x hybrid rockets (a mix of liquid & solid that can be started, stopped, restarted & throttled.) These also serve as OMS and launch abort engines. The propellants are liquified nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and a synthetic rubber like fuel called HTBP.

Runway: 8,000 feet (could land at any commercial airport)

Dream Chaser artwork attached. Notice it has no nose wheel - it uses an old-school skid. This is much lighter, simpler and increases the payload mass. Steering is by applying differential pressure to each sides wheel brakes. You haul it off the flight line using a standard aircraft tractor.

[DocM]

OTV-2 is coming home in June, probably i the next 2 weeks. The landing will be at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

OTV-1 has finished its refurbishment and will fly again in October.

[neoadorable]

Very awesome news...this is good progress. When I read this, all I can think of is Valkyrie shuttle in 30 years :woot:

[M_Lyons10]

That's pretty cool. So essentially it's a drone made for space. I had no idea we even had this. lol

[butilikethecookie]

Cool! Kind of looks like a space shuttle...

[DocM]

It is a sort of shuttle, just an un-piloted one.

As for it being a drone yes, that too but unarmed. The Dream Chaser and the Dragon can also serve as drones. Of all of these these the Dragon and Dream Chaser have the larger payload capacities - 6 and 3 metric tons respectively.

The long on-orbit duration winner is Dragon which is designed for a 2 year unmanned mission under the name DragonLab.