U.S. Space Force's X-37B Spaceplane Is Launched On A Secret Mission Aboard SpaceX Rocket

 

FOX News: SpaceX launches X-37B aboard a Falcon Heavy rocket at Kennedy Space Center  

The mission marks the first time SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket has been used to launch the Boeing X-37B into orbit 

Elon Musk’s SpaceX on Thursday successfully launched the Pentagon’s secretive X-37B spacecraft after the mission was delayed for several weeks due to weather and other issues. 

SpaceX launched the X-37B aboard a Falcon Heavy rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida Thursday evening – marking the first time the rocket has carried the Space Force’s X-37B. 

On its six previous trips into orbit, the spacecraft was launched by United Launch Alliance Atlas V or SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets.  

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WNU Editor: This mission is expected to last for years .... US military space plane blasts off on another secretive mission expected to last years (ABC News). 

U.S. Space Force's X-37B Spaceplane Is Launched On A Secret Mission Aboard SpaceX Rocket  

US military space plane blasts off on another secretive mission expected to last years -- AP  

US military's secretive spaceplane launched on possible higher-orbit mission -- Reuters 

In spectacular launch doubleheader, SpaceX puts military spaceplane and 23 Starlinks in orbit -- CBS News  

SpaceX Falcon Heavy launches X-37B plane, one of the US military’s most fascinating secrets -- CNN  

US military’s X-37B robot spaceplane blasts off on secret mission aboard SpaceX rocket -- The Guardian

SpaceX launches U.S. military spaceplane on Falcon Heavy rocket -- Space News 

SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launches mysterious X-37B space plane for US Space Force after delays -- Space.com  

US Space Force sends X-37B space plane on another secretive mission -- C4ISRNET

U.S. Space Force Set To Launch Secretive X-37B Space Plane On Dec. 10

 

Space.com: SpaceX, US Space Force set to launch secretive X-37B space plane on Dec. 10  

A Falcon Heavy rocket is scheduled to launch the robotic vehicle at 8:14 p.m. EST on Sunday (Dec. 10). 

The U.S. Space Force's mysterious X-37B space plane is just about ready to take flight for the seventh time. 

The Space Force and SpaceX "are making final preparations" for the planned Sunday evening (Dec. 10) launch of the robotic X-37B, Space Force officials said in an emailed update today (Dec. 7). 

The space plane is scheduled to lift off atop a Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a 10-minute window that opens at 8:14 p.m. EST (0114 GMT on Dec. 11). If SpaceX webcasts the launch as expected, you'll be able to watch the action live here at Space.com.  

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U.S. Space Force Set To Launch Secretive X-37B Space Plane On Dec. 10  

Elon Musk's SpaceX to launch the US military's ultra-secretive X-37B spaceplane in its longest-ever flight -- Business Insider 

X-37’s Next—and 7th—Launch Could Be Its Last -- Air & Space Forces Magazine  

Space Systems Command and SpaceX Gear Up for USSF-52 Falcon Heavy Mission -- Space War 

Space Force's secretive space plane is making its highest flight yet -- New Scientist  

How to watch the SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch U.S. space plane to orbit on Sunday -- Digital Trends

US Air Force's X-37B Space Plane Completes Its Sixth Mission, Landing After 908 Days In Orbit

The X-37B spaceplane is a reliable, reusable, uncrewed space test platform designed to carry experiments to orbit and return them to Earth for evaluation. (Image credit: U.S. Department of the Air Force photo)  

FOX News: Secret spaceplane returns to Earth sending sonic booms across Florida 

People throughout Central Florida heard the rumble of the sonic booms Saturday. 

At first a mystery, the booms were caused by the X-37B space plane returning to Earth, landing on the old space shuttle runway at Kennedy Space Center. The landing marks the end of a more than 900-day spaceflight. 

 The sound of sonic booms across Central Florida marked the return to Earth of Boeing's X-37B, an autonomous spaceplane returning after more than 900 days in space on a U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force mission. 

People from Cape Canaveral and as far inland as Orlando heard the rumble of the sonic booms about 5 a.m. Saturday. At first a mystery, the U.S. Space Force confirms the booms were caused by the X-37B spaceplane returning to Earth, landing on the old space shuttle runway – now called Launch and Landing Facility – at Kennedy Space Center.  

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 US Air Force's X-37B Space Plane Completes Its Sixth Mission, Landing After 908 Days In Orbit  

Unmanned, solar-powered US space plane back after 908 days -- AP 

X-37B space plane completes its sixth mission, lands after nearly 30 months in orbit -- Space News 

Secret unmanned US spaceship causes chaos as it lands in Florida - after almost THREE YEARS circling earth - with locals fearing it was a UFO streaking through the sky... as sonic boom rocked houses -- Daily Mail  

US space plane lands after 908 days in orbit -- ANI  

Space Florida Statement on X-37B Return at Launch and Landing Facility -- Space Florida

U.S. Space Force's X-37B Space Plane Is Just A Week Away From Setting A New Mission-Duration Mark

The U.S. Space Force's robotic X-37B space plane is shown here in a 2009 photo at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The sixth X-37B mission launched into Earth orbit on May 17, 2020 and is still going. (Image credit: U.S. Air Force)  

Space.com: US military's mysterious X-37B space plane zooms toward orbital record 

The X-37B is just a week away from setting a new mission-duration mark. 

The U.S. military's X-37B robotic space plane is closing in on a mission-duration record. 

The X-37B launched to Earth orbit on May 17, 2020 on the sixth mission for the program, a flight known as Orbital Test Vehicle-6 (OTV-6). 

The Space Force minishuttle has now been aloft for 773 days. That's just a week shy of the X-37B record of 780 days, which was set on OTV-5. (That program record doesn't come close to the overall mark for an orbital stay; for example, the Landsat-5 satellite observed Earth from orbit for 29 years.)  

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WNU Editor: The X-37B record is 780 days in space.

The U.S. Air Force's Secretive X-37B Has Surpassed 500 Days In Orbit

(Image credit: Boeing)  

Daily Mail: US Air Force’s ultra-secretive X-37B plane has now spent 500 days in orbit as part of its latest heavily-classified mission 

* The U.S. Air Force's secretive X-37B has surpassed 500 days flying around Earth 

* The OTV-6 mission took from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in May 2020 

* The robotic space plane hosts a range of classified experiments for the military 

* The return date for the OTV-6 mission is unclear at this point 

The U.S. Air Force's secretive X-37B space plane that launched in May 2020 has now surpassed 500 days flying around the Earth, with no apparent end in sight. 

The mission, dubbed Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV-6), took from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, riding atop a liquid fueled Atlas V rocket. 

The robotic X-37B, which took off from Earth on May 17, 2020, is used to host a range of classified experiments for the military.  

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Update: Air Force's X-37B robotic space plane wings past 500 days in Earth orbit (Space.com)  

WNU Editor: Its mission is still classified.

Video Emerges Showing The US Air Force's X-37B Spaceplane With Its Cargo Bay Doors Open

Warzone/The Drive: This Is Our First Look At The Secretive X-37B Spaceplane With Its Cargo Bay Doors Open

The mysterious craft is currently on its sixth orbital mission. The last one lasted 780 days.

A video of the Air Force's secretive X-37B opening its bay doors has come to our attention. It shows the 29-foot-long X-37B in an upright position, with its doors swinging open and its solar array, which fits conformally inside the bay, beginning to deploy. It isn't exactly clear when the clip first emerged, but it has been used by Boeing as part of the Air Force Association's ongoing annual convention.

@DutchSpace spotted the clip and worked to blow the video up a bit for better viewing. The X-37B's payload bay is widely described as roughly the size of a large pickup truck's flatbed. The miniature space shuttle's bay is a major feature that gives it such a high degree of flexibility. Aside from a handful of experimental technologies, very little is known about what the highly maneuverable spacecraft has been carrying into orbit for such long periods of time, but it is widely thought that experimental reconnaissance and communications payloads are a major part of the program. Rumors have circulated for years that it could also be used to release small 'cubesats' into orbit, support testing of anti-satellite technologies, and more.

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WNU Editor: Cannot tell much from the video. But what is shown is intriguing.

Space Force Launches The Mysterious X-37B Space Plane

Defense News: The Space Force just launched the mysterious X-37B space plane

WASHINGTON — The enigmatic X-37B space plane is back in orbit after a Sunday morning launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.

After strong ground winds at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida caused the launch mission to be cancelled on Saturday, the Atlas V finally blasted off a day later at 9:14 am Eastern time.

The Boeing-made X-37B is an unmanned, reusable spacecraft that takes off vertically and lands horizontally on a runway. The Air Force, which own two X-37B vehicles, has historically been reticent to comment on the capabilities of the X-37B and what it does during its extended time in space, aside from hosting scientific experiments.

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More News On Space Force Launching The Mysterious X-37B Space Plane

Atlas 5 rocket launches Pentagon spaceplane on mission shrouded in secrecy -- CBS
Space Force launches robotic X-37B space plane on new mystery mission -- Space.com
US Air Force successfully launches unmanned reusable drone for space experiments -- Straits Times
Air Force launches X-37B spy plane from Florida -- UPI

US Space Force To Launch The Next X-37B Mission On May 16

Space News: X-37B spaceplane to carry DoD and NASA experiments in upcoming mission

The X-37B Operational Test Vehicle 6 will be launched to low Earth orbit on a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket.

WASHINGTON — The sixth mission of the U.S. Air Force’s reusable X-37B spaceplane is scheduled to launch May 16 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

The X-37B Operational Test Vehicle 6 will be launched to low Earth orbit on a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket. The Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office owns the Boeing-made spaceplane, which flies and lands autonomously. The U.S. Space Force is responsible for the launch, on-orbit operations and landing of the vehicle.

OTV 6 will carry more experiments than any of the previous X-37B missions, Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett said May 6 during an online event hosted by the Space Foundation.

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More News On The US Space Force Launching The Next X-37B Mission On May 16

Air Force's Secret Space Plane Is About to Launch Again with Even More Payloads -- Military.com
Pentagon announces new mission for secretive space drone -- AFP
The mysterious X-37B space plane is going back into orbit — here's what it'll be doing up there -- Business Insider
US Space Force to launch the next X-37B space plane mystery mission on May 16 -- Space.com
Air Force sets May 16 launch for X-37B spy plane -- UPI

U.S. Air Force's X-37B Space Plane Is Preparing To Launch In May On Its Sixth Mission

The US Air Force’s mysterious space plane aims to break another record by spending longer than two years in low-Earth orbit. The X-37B is set to take off on May 16 and is not expected to return home until mid-2022 – the previous record was a 780-day mission in 2019 (pictured)

Daily Mail: Secretive Air Force X-37B space plane is launching its sixth mission in May that's expected to break its previous record of 780 days in low orbit

* The X-37B space plane is set to go on its sixth mission on May 16 from Florida
* The craft is expected to again spend more than two years in space after its prior 780-day mission
* The space plane allows the US Air Force to secretly test new technologies

The US Air Force’s mysterious space plane aims to break another record by again spending longer than two years in low-Earth orbit.

The X-37B is set to take off on May 16 and is not expected to return home until mid-2022 – the previous record was a 780-day mission that finished in 2019.

The mission, dubbed OTV-6, is set to take off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, riding atop a liquid fueled Atlas V rocket.

This pilotless craft has been performing a range of classified missions for the military group since 2010, allowing the group to test new technologies in space.

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More News On The U.S. Air Force's X-37B Space Plane Preparing To Launch In May

The X-37B Spaceplane Is Gearing Up for Its Next Mission -- Popular Mechanics
ULA begins stacking rocket for next launch of U.S. military spaceplane -- SpaceFlight Now
The U.S. Air Force's X-37B Space Plane Could Soon Leave Earth for 2 Years -- National Interest

Will The Air Force's X-37B 'Orbital Drone' Be The First Of America's Space Weapons?

Boeing

David Axe, National Interest: Could The Air Force's X-37B 'Orbital Drone' Be The First Of America's Space Weapons?

For now, space weapons are prohibited by treaty.

Key point: The Air Force denies that the X-37B has ever carried weapons. Overtly arming a spacecraft would be a violation of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty.

A Dutch skywatcher achieved a rare feat in late June and early July 2019. Using a 10-inch-diameter telescope fitted with a camera, Ralf Vandebergh photographed the U.S. Air Force's secretive X-37B space plane in mid-mission 210 miles over Earth’s surface.

"We can recognize a bit of the nose, payload bay and tail of this mini-shuttle, with even a sign of some smaller detail," Vandebergh told Space.com.

Vandebergh had been hunting for the robotic spacecraft for months and finally managed to track it down in May 2019, according to Space.com reporter Leonard David. But it took a few more weeks to actually photograph the roughly 29-feet-long robotic shuttle.

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WNU Editor: Space weapons are prohibited by treaty (for now).

The U.S. Air Force Wants The F-35 And F-22 To Talk To The X-37B Space Plane

US Air Force X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle 4 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility in Florida, May 7, 2017. US Air Force

Business Insider/Military.com: The Air Force wants the F-35 and F-22 stealth fighters to talk to the secret X-37B space plane

* The Air Force is looking for ways to connect its platforms to better share information across battlefields.
* That connectivity may mean the F-22 and F-35 stealth fighters will talk to the secretive X-37B space plane.

The US Air Force is taking its mission to connect multiple platforms and battlefields to new heights — literally.

The service's stealthiest jets and a super-secret space plane could one day share information.

That's the concept Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein teased last week, saying he's interested in seeing how the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, F-22 Raptor and X-37 space plane might talk to each other.

Audience members at an Air Force Association breakfast Wednesday at first thought the chief meant something a little more down to Earth, either the X-47B unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) or even the Kratos XQ-58 Valkyrie drone, which the service is experimenting with for its Loyal Wingman program.

But it is indeed the super secret X-37B space plane, a service official said following Goldfein's remarks.

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WNU Editor: I can understand why you want the F-22 and F-35 communicating with each other. But also with the X-37B space plane?

Air Force X-37B Spaceplane Returns To Earth After A Record 780-Day Mystery Mission

An Air Force X-37B spaceplane made a surprise landing at Kennedy Space Center early Sunday morning following a record 780-day mission conducting classified research

Daily Mail: Secretive Air Force X-37B spaceplane lands back on Earth after a record-breaking 780-day mystery mission

* The pilotless spaceplane made a surprise landing at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida early Sunday morning, according to US Air Force officials
* It has been conducting research in the secretive Orbital Test Vehicle program
* The spacecraft is one of two reusable, unmanned X-37B models that are capable of performing multiple long-term flights to and from orbit
* Officials have disclosed few details about the newly-completed OTV-5 mission

An Air Force X-37B spaceplane has returned to Earth following a record 780-day mission.

The pilotless spaceplane, which has been conducting classified research in the secretive Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) program, made a surprise landing at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida early Sunday morning.

'The safe return of this spacecraft, after breaking its own endurance record, is the result of the innovative partnership between Government and Industry,' Air Force Chief of Staff Gen David L Goldfein said in a statement announcing the landing.

'The sky is no longer the limit for the Air Force and, if Congress approves, the U.S. Space Force.'

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More News On The Return Of The Air Force X-37B Spaceplane

X-37B breaks record, lands after 780 days in orbit -- US Air Force
Air Force spaceplane returns to Earth after 780-day mission -- CBS
US Air Force's X-37B Space Plane Lands After Record 780-Day Mystery Mission -- Space.com
Air Force X-37B secret spaceplane lands after 780 days in orbit -- Space News
Mysterious US Air Force ‘space plane’ lands after record-breaking 780-day mission -- RT

The Air Force's X-37B Space Plane's Mission Is Still Unknown

National Interest: Just What Is the Air Force's X-37B Space Plane up To?

Very suspicious.

Key point: It is unknown what the true mission of America's special space vehicle is.

A Dutch skywatcher achieved a rare feat in late June and early July 2019. Using a 10-inch-diameter telescope fitted with a camera, Ralf Vandebergh photographed the U.S. Air Force's secretive X-37B space plane in mid-mission 210 miles over Earth’s surface.

"We can recognize a bit of the nose, payload bay and tail of this mini-shuttle, with even a sign of some smaller detail," Vandebergh told Space.com.

Vandebergh had been hunting for the robotic spacecraft for months and finally managed to track it down in May 2019, according to Space.com reporter Leonard David. But it took a few more weeks to actually photograph the roughly 29-feet-long robotic shuttle.

"When I tried to observe it again [in] mid-June, it didn't meet the predicted time and path," Vandebergh told David. "It turned out to have maneuvered to another orbit. Thanks to the amateur satellite observers' network, it was rapidly found in orbit again, and I was able to take some images on June 30 and July 2, [2019]."

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WNU editor: The X-37B is now approaching the 800 day point in its mission.

US Air Force's Mysterious X-37B Space Plane Sets New Record In Space

The craft (pictured) was launched from Elon Musk's SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Nasa's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida

Daily Mail: US Air Force's mysterious X-37B space plane sets new record after spending 717 days in orbit (and we STILL don't know what it's doing)

* The unmanned aircraft was launched into space on September 7th 2017
* The craft was sent up aboard one of Elon Musk's SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets
* Its mission dubbed Orbital Test Vehicle-5 is top secret and details are scant
* Some believe it may be designed to pave the way for a future space force

A pilotless space plane operated by the US Air Force has completed a record 717 days in orbit – and, we still have no idea what its mission is.

The X-37B craft clocked 717 days, 20 hours and 42 minutes this morning at 6:43 a.m. EDT (1043 GMT), according to Space.com, bringing it past the spaceflight duration record set previously during the Orbital Test Vehicle 4 mission.

While it isn’t the longest flight ever, the feat marks a personal best for this line of craft, with each pushing a bit further than the mission before.

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More News On The US Air Force's Mysterious X-37B Space Plane Setting A New Record In Space

X-37B Military Space Plane Breaks Record on Latest Mystery Mission -- Space.com
The U.S. Air Force's Secretive X-37B Spaceplane Breaks Another Record -- Popular Mechanics
The US Air Force’s shadowy X-37B space plane breaks spaceflight record -- MIT Technology Review

U.S. Air Force's X-37B Military Space Plane Has Been In Space For 700 Days

U.S. DOD

Space.com: X-37B Military Space Plane's Latest Mystery Mission Hits 700 Days

The longest X-37B mission to date is 718 days.

The U.S. Air Force's X-37B military space plane has now been circling Earth for 700 days, just a few weeks shy of the vehicle's spaceflight-duration record.

The robotic X-37B launched on its fifth and latest mission, known as Orbital Test Vehicle 5 (OTV-5), on Sept. 7, 2017. And the reusable spacecraft, which looks like a miniature version of NASA's space shuttle, has been zipping around our planet ever since.

Exactly what the X-37B is doing up there remains a topic of much speculation; the solar-powered spacecraft's missions, and most of its payloads, remain classified. The Air Force tends to talk about the X-37B program in general terms, stressing that the space plane tests technologies for future reusable spacecraft and takes experiments up to space and back.

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Update: Everything We Know About the Air Force's Secret X-37B Spaceplane (Popular Mechanics)

WNU Editor: We still do not know what it is doing up there.

This Is How The X-37B Spaceplane Can 'Disappear'

US Air Force X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle 4 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility in Florida, May 7, 2017. US Air Force

Popular Mechanics: Here's How the X-37B Spaceplane 'Disappears'

The winged spacecraft can alter its orbit to confound adversaries.

Former Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson revealed to an audience last week that the X-37B spaceplane can pull off maneuvers in space that drives potential adversaries “nuts.” Although maddeningly unspecific, experts believe she was referring to the X-37B’s ability to change its orbit, throwing off both amateur and professional satellite watchers and making the spacecraft unpredictable.

According to Military.com, Wilson was speaking at the Apsen Security Forum when she remarked that the X-37B "can do an orbit that looks like an egg and, when it's close to the Earth, it's close enough to the atmosphere to turn where it is."

"Which means our adversaries don't know—and that happens on the far side of the Earth from our adversaries—where it's going to come up next. And we know that that drives them nuts. And I'm really glad about that."

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Update: The Air Force's former top civilian explains how the mysterious X-37B spacecraft drives US foes 'nuts' (Military.com/Business Insider)

WNU Editor: It looks like the X-37B is going for a new record .... Is the US Air Force's Secretive X-37B Space Plane Headed for New Record? (Space.com).

U.S. Air Force's X-37B Military Space Plane Caught On Camera

The U.S. Air Force's X-37B robotic space plane in orbit, as photographed by satellite tracker Ralf Vandebergh. (Image: © Ralf Vandebergh)

Space.com: Mysterious X-37B Military Space Plane Caught on Camera (Photo)

We still don't know what the X-37B is doing up there, however.

Skywatcher and satellite tracker Ralf Vandebergh of the Netherlands recently caught a rare glimpse of the U.S. Air Force's secretive X-37B space plane.

Vandebergh said he'd been hunting for the robotic spacecraft for months and finally managed to track it down in May. But it took a bit longer to get photos of the vehicle.

"When I tried to observe it again [in] mid-June, it didn't meet the predicted time and path," Vandebergh explained. "It turned out to have maneuvered to another orbit. Thanks to the amateur satellite observers' network, it was rapidly found in orbit again, and I was able to take some images on June 30 and July 2."

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Update: Rare image of US Air Force's secretive space plane in orbit (Boing Boing)

WNU editor: Cannot tell much from that photo.

Top Secret U.S. Military Space Plane Pasts 500 Days On Its Mystery Mission

Boeing

Space.com: US Military Space Plane Wings Past 500 Days on Latest Mystery Mission

The secretive mission of a U.S. Air Force X-37B miniature space plane just winged past 500 days of flight.

The robotic drone is performing classified duties during the program’s fifth flight.

The current mission — known as Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV-5) — was rocketed into Earth orbit on Sept. 7, 2017, atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 booster from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida.

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WNU Editor: 500 days is a long time.

SpaceX Launches Secret US Military Space Plane X-37B Ahead Of Hurricane Irma

Space News: SpaceX launches X-37B ahead of Hurricane Irma

WASHINGTON — With Hurricane Irma looming off the Florida coast, SpaceX beat unfavorable weather odds Thursday morning to send the U.S. Air Force’s X-37B reusable spaceplane back into orbit for its fifth classified mission.

A Falcon 9 carrying the Boeing-built X-37B hidden inside its protective shroud lifted off a 10:00 a.m. Eastern from NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A.

By noon, the Air Force had declared the launch a success.

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More News On SpaceX Launching The Secret US Military Space Plane X-37B Ahead Of Hurricane Irma

SpaceX launches secret US military space plane ahead of Irma -- AFP
SpaceX launches Air Force's super-secret minishuttle -- AP
Billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX launches a secret Air Force space drone -- CNBC
SpaceX beats hurricane with smooth launch of military’s X-37B spaceplane -- SpaceFlight Now
SpaceX sneaks in X-37B space plane launch ahead of Hurricane Irma -- The Register
SpaceX Rocket Launches X-37B Space Plane on Secret Mission, Aces Landing -- Space.com
SpaceX Launches Air Force's Secret Spaceplane as Hurricane Irma Approaches -- Popular Mechanics
SpaceX launches U.S. military space plane on secret mission -- CBC
Reusable Rocket Takes US Air Force's Mysterious X-37B Space Shuttle Into Orbit -- Sputnik International

U.S. Air Force's Secretive X-37B Space Plane To Be Launched For The 5th Time On September 7

In a testing procedure, the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle taxis on the flightline at Vandenberg AFB. Photo: U.s Air Force.

Inverse: SpaceX Prepares for Another Military Mission on September 7

SpaceX successfully ran a test-fire for a Falcon 9 rocket Thursday from Launchpad 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, in preparation for a September 7 mission to launch an American military X-37B mini-shuttle into low-Earth orbit. After delivering its payload, SpaceX will attempt to land the same Falcon 9 first stage booster back on solid ground at Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

The company is no stranger to fulfilling missions for the American military, having launched its first spy satellite into orbit back in May. Next week’s launch, however, is a more ambitious military launch than anything the company has previously tried.

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More News On The Next Launch Of The  U.S. Air Force's Secretive X-37B Space Plane

Air Force preparing to launch fifth Orbital Test Vehicle mission -- SpaceRef
Successful Static Fire Test Sets SpaceX on Target for Post Labor Day Launch of USAF X-37B Mini-Shuttle Sept. 7 -- Universe Today
Fifth Launch Date for Secretive USAF X-37B Space Plane Revealed by Pentagon -- Sputnik International
SpaceX in final preps for Falcon 9’s first mission with X-37B -- Nasa Spaceflight