A Marshall Space Flight Center concept image showing the on-orbit functions for the reusable X-37 spaceplane. Image Credit: NASA/MSFC
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Officials at the USAF’s Rapid Capabilities Office announced today the launch dates for the second flight of the USAF’s secretive X-37B Military Spaceplane; the launch will occur on March 4 with a back-up launch opportunity on March 5.
The AFRCO is leading the Defense Department’s orbital test vehicle initiative, by direction of the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics and the secretary of the Air Force.
For the first X-37B OTV mission, Air Force officials focused on testing and evaluating the performance capabilities of the vehicle.
This second mission will build upon the OTV-1 on-orbit demonstration, validate and replicate initial testing and fine tune the technical parameters of the vehicle tests.
The X-37B provides a flexible space test platform to conduct various experiments and allow satellite sensors, subsystems, components and associated technology to be efficiently transported to and from the space environment where it will need to function.
Launch specialists at the Air Force Space Command’s 45th Space Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., will launch the vehicle from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on an Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex-41.
At the conclusion of its classified mission, the X37-B will land at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., and will be recovered by technicians from the 30th Space Wing.
Friday’s launch window for the opens at 3:39 p.m. EST.
