Falcon 9: USAF X-37B spaceplane (OTV-5 mission thread)

[DocM 16,615]

The USAF X-37B long duration spaceplane's first flight on Falcon 9.

 

Launch site: LC-39A KSC
Static fire: early September 
Launch date: September 7
Launch time: TBA
Orbit: classified
Mission: classified

 

Quote

SpaceX Opens Media Accreditation for OTV-5 Mission 

 

HAWTHORNE, Calif. – Aug. 14, 2017. Media accreditation is now open for SpaceX's Orbital Test Vehicle Mission 5 (OTV-5) from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The launch is targeted for no earlier than September

Members of the media who are U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents (green card holders) and are interested in covering the launch must fill out this media accreditation form by 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, August 16.

Requesting accreditation is not required of media who hold current annual press credentials issued by Kennedy Space Center, but it is appreciated for planning purposes.

For launches from LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center security decides which media are credentialed to cover launches, not SpaceX. Please keep in mind, simply making the request in a timely fashion does not guarantee the request will be granted. Please be sure to provide all the information included on the SpaceX form.

More details on pre-launch media activities will be made available closer to launch.

 

 

In Atlas V fairing

 

[Unobscured Vision 2,678]

And it's a safe bet that ULA is hopping mad over this one. 

[DocM 16,615]

17 minutes ago, Unobscured Vision said:

And it's a safe bet that ULA is hopping mad over this one. 

 

They have been for months. The announcement of this mission came out of the blue.

[+John. 1,395]

2 hours ago, Unobscured Vision said:

And it's a safe bet that ULA is hopping mad over this one. 

Well they got to launch something today so that should be fi...haha who am I kidding i bet they're LIVID.

[DocM 16,615]

 

[bguy_1986 356]

Static fire was completed - in case anybody else hasn't seen that already.

 

[+John. 1,395]

 

Footage from a couple of nights ago showing it being driven to be mated.

[Emn1ty 4,085]

I'm honestly surprised it even fits in a fairing.

[anthdci 218]

here we go

lift off!

[anthdci 218]

and she's back, seems like a really quick one with not following the second stage and payload.

[bguy_1986 356]

 

[bguy_1986 356]

The RSS looks a little lighter again.

[Jim K 13,746]

Caught the tail end...nice landing. Was kinda hoping we could have seen Irma (or even the fairing sep to reveal the X-37)...but oh well.

[Beittil 582]

Nice show as usual, excellent landing. Yawn

 

PS... where has @DocMbeen lately, normally he'd be all over this forum on launch day.

[DocM 16,615]

I was feeling a bit under the weather; nothing terribly serious.