X-37B OTV-3 (USA 240)

Spacecraft nº:

US spacecraft nº:

Launch data: Designation  39025 / 12071A Launch date  11 Dec 2012 - 18:03 UT Launch site  CC, SLC-41 Launch vehicle  Atlas-5/501 (AV-034) Mission  Military: Technology development Reusable spaceplane LEO Earth orbit: Perigee / Apogee  342 x 358 km Eccentricity  1,19E-03 Inclination  43.5 deg Period  91.54 min Landing date - time   Landing location  Vandenberg AFB Flight Duration (d:hr:min)  674.9 days Nbr orbits

X-37 (Boeing) X-37 on orbit (Boeing)

The X-37B OTV-3 vehicle being encapsulated in its Atlas-V payload fairing for launch on the OTV-3 mission. Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force

Recovery crew members process the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle at Vandenberg Air Force Base after completing 674 days in space. A total of three X-37B missions have been completed, totaling 1,367 days on orbit. Photo Credit: Boeing

Description:

• This is the third OTV (Orbital Test Vehicle) mission. The OTV 3 (X-37B) is a robotic spaceplane developed by the US Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office and carries secret test payloads.

Mission details:

• Launch delaited from Oct 25,2012 to Nov 27.
• The first X-37B flight vehicle returned to space on Dec 11 aboard Atlas AV-034, as the third OTV (Orbital Test Vehicle) mission. The satellite is probably in a roughly 400 km circular orbit at an inclination between 35 and 45 deg.
• Jan 2013: Hobbyists have located the US Air Force X-37B spaceplane in a 343 x 360 km x 43.5 deg orbit.
• Oct 2014: The third X-37B mission, is expected to land shortly after almost two years in space. On May 5, 2014 it was observed to still be in a 382 x 405 km x 43.5 deg orbit, similar to the parameters achieved a few months after launch. However between then and early October it made several orbit lowering burns; it was last observed on Oct 6, 2014 in a 259 x 285 km orbit.
• X-37B flight vehicle 1 completed its second flight on Oct 17, 2014 landing at Vandenberg AFB at 1624 UTC after 674.9 days in space.