Author Topic: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012  (Read 183657 times)

Offline Helodriver

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1076
  • Liked: 5971
  • Likes Given: 700
Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #260 on: 05/05/2014 11:22 pm »
Can this NOTAM for Vandenberg be related to X-37B landing?

Quote
M0104/14 - RUNWAY CLOSED. 07 MAY 14:30 2014 UNTIL 07 MAY 23:00 2014. CREATED: 04 MAY 17:56 2014

Nice catch, I bet you are correct.

VAFB contacts I spoke to today and a trip out to look at the airfield lead me to believe this NOTAM is not related to the X-37B. There is another flight operation using the facility.

Offline DeanG1967

  • Member
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 167
  • Liked: 24
  • Likes Given: 11
Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #261 on: 05/06/2014 04:53 am »
Agree.  Probably not for OTV-3 return.  Runways close for maintenance now and then.  Also, reference below for OTV-2 landing...you usually see R2516 closed when they return (or I would expect R2517 and 2516 closed if they were to land to the north on Runway 30).

Oddly enough the NOTAM below is for the warning area (W532) due west of Vandenburg and the restricted area (R2516) right over the base

06/013 (A1536/12) - AIRSPACE W532E ACT SFC-UNL. 16 JUN 07:30 2012 UNTIL 16 JUN 16:30 2012. CREATED: 15 JUN 18:11 2012

and

M0295/12 - RESTRICTED AREA 2516 CLOSED SURFACE TO FL250. 16 JUN 08:00 2012 UNTIL 16 JUN 13:30 2012. CREATED: 15 JUN 19:44 2012

So the warning area (surface to unlimited) is active the 16th 0730Z to 1630Z and the restricted area (surface to 25,000 feet MSL) is closed the 16th 0800Z to 1330Z.  Any passes fit in those times?
 

Offline JosephB

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 737
  • Liked: 4
  • Likes Given: 1
Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #262 on: 07/07/2014 01:20 am »
Anyone have recent pics of OPF-1?
Or a X-37C? (wishful thinking)... seriously, we could be testing this by now.


http://www.space.com/24168-secret-x37b-space-plane-boeing-hangar.html

Offline JosephB

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 737
  • Liked: 4
  • Likes Given: 1
Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #263 on: 07/07/2014 01:47 am »
Or OPF-2 as I guess they have both. OPF-3 going to CST-100.

Offline JosephB

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 737
  • Liked: 4
  • Likes Given: 1
Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #264 on: 07/07/2014 11:48 am »
That's good to hear. Wonder how ready they are to receive OTV-3?

Offline jacqmans

  • Moderator
  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 21709
  • Houten, The Netherlands
  • Liked: 8562
  • Likes Given: 320
Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #265 on: 07/21/2014 07:39 am »
I don't have a photo to share, but OPF-1 has a big blue sign on the south side of it now that says "HOME OF THE X-37B". It's hard to tell from a distance (someone at KSC please chime in) but it appears almost as if it were a new vertical door (as in fairing rollout) but I may be very incorrect on this as I have not seen it up close.

Here a photo.... OPF-1 is Boeing now....
« Last Edit: 07/21/2014 11:56 am by jacqmans »
Jacques :-)

Offline wkann

Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #266 on: 07/22/2014 03:44 pm »
I don’t think you can see it from this image, but there were people working on scissor lifts inside of OPF-1 yesterday. It looks like the bay has already been gutted because you can see all the way threw to the north side.   

Its also interesting that Boeing got OPF-3 a while ago and they still don’t have their logo on the building, yet OPF-1 already has it.
"It's our destiny to explore. It's our destiny to be a space-faring nation."- Eugene Cernan

Offline JosephB

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 737
  • Liked: 4
  • Likes Given: 1
Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #267 on: 07/24/2014 09:16 pm »
Thanks for the images.
The door looks to be of the same size & shape of the one shown in this article, not that it means anything.

http://defensetech.org/2012/06/18/video-x-37b-robo-shuttle-landing/

Also, that landing video is so damn cool!

Maybe we'll get to see processing pics some day.

Offline DeanG1967

  • Member
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 167
  • Liked: 24
  • Likes Given: 11
Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #268 on: 08/03/2014 03:07 am »
Of note:  Tomorrow (3 Aug 14) OTV-3 will hit the 600 day mark.

Offline Star One

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13997
  • UK
  • Liked: 3974
  • Likes Given: 220
LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #269 on: 08/10/2014 07:22 pm »
It's been carrying out some manoeuvres of late leading to some speculation that one answer is that it's getting ready to return, but this is not the only possible explanation.

http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Aug-2014/0066.html
« Last Edit: 08/10/2014 07:23 pm by Star One »

Offline DeanG1967

  • Member
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 167
  • Liked: 24
  • Likes Given: 11
Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #270 on: 08/11/2014 03:49 am »
   08/818 - AIRSPACE R2933 ACT 5000FT-UNL. 5000FT - UNL, 11 AUG 13:00 2014 UNTIL 12 AUG 01:00
2014. CREATED: 10 AUG 13:03 2014
   08/804 - AIRSPACE R2934 ACT SFC-8000FT. SFC - 8000FT, 11 AUG 12:00 2014 UNTIL 11 AUG 20:00
2014. CREATED: 10 AUG 12:03 2014
 
The two restricted areas around the Cape go active on 11 Aug at 1300Z until 0100Z on the 12th).  Could they try a landing there?  I thought they weren't ready to receive it?

Offline kevin-rf

  • Elite Veteran
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8823
  • Overlooking the path Mary's little Lamb took..
  • Liked: 1318
  • Likes Given: 306
Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #271 on: 08/11/2014 12:27 pm »
Based on the Heavens-above data (Which might be out of date if it is maneuvering) , here are some passes during those windows.
If you're happy and you know it,
It's your med's!

Offline Star One

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13997
  • UK
  • Liked: 3974
  • Likes Given: 220
LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #272 on: 08/13/2014 03:07 pm »
It appears to have changed orbit to produce a more circular one than before.

http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Aug-2014/0085.html
« Last Edit: 08/13/2014 03:15 pm by Star One »

Offline jacqmans

  • Moderator
  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 21709
  • Houten, The Netherlands
  • Liked: 8562
  • Likes Given: 320
Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #273 on: 10/08/2014 06:41 pm »

October 8, 2014

NASA Partners with X-37B Program for Use of Former Space Shuttle Hangars

NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida has entered into an agreement with the U.S. Air Force's X-37B Program for use of the center’s Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) Bays 1 and 2 to process the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle for launch.

The OPF bays were last used during NASA’s Space Shuttle Program. With the agency’s transition to the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, the agency currently does not have a mission requirement for the facilities. This agreement ensures the facilities will again be used for their originally-intended purpose -- processing spacecraft.

"Kennedy is positioning itself for the future, transitioning to a multi-user launch facility for both commercial and government customers, while embarking on NASA's new deep-space exploration plans," said Kennedy Center Director Robert Cabana. "A dynamic infrastructure is taking shape, designed to host many kinds of spacecraft and rockets."

In addition to vehicle preparation for launch, the X-37B Program conducted testing at Kennedy's Shuttle Landing Facility to demonstrate that landing the vehicle at the former shuttle runway is a technically feasible option.

The Boeing Company is performing construction upgrades in the OPFs on behalf of the X-37B Program. These upgrades are targeted to be complete in December.

For more information on partnering with NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/business/index.html
Jacques :-)

Offline Liss

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1882
  • Moscow, Russia
  • Liked: 1084
  • Likes Given: 88
Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #274 on: 10/12/2014 08:26 am »
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., Oct. 10, 2014 (Vandenberg PR) – Preparations for the third landing of the X-37B, the Air Force’s unmanned, reusable space plane, are underway at Vandenberg Air Force Base.

See more at: http://www.parabolicarc.com/2014/10/11/vandenberg-prepares-x37b-landing/#more-53658
This message reflects my personal opinion based on open sources of information.

Offline Star One

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13997
  • UK
  • Liked: 3974
  • Likes Given: 220
Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #275 on: 10/12/2014 08:42 am »
Be interested to see its condition after being in orbit for so long.

Offline SMS

  • Regular
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3213
    • Astronauts & their spaceflights
  • Liked: 2164
  • Likes Given: 249
Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #276 on: 10/12/2014 08:21 pm »
Secretive U.S. robotic mini-shuttle to end 22-month mission on Tuesday

Quote
(Reuters) - The U.S. military plans to land its secretive X-37B robotic space plane in California on Tuesday, ending a classified 22-month mission, officials said.

The exact time and date will depend on weather and technical factors, the Air Force said in a statement released on Friday. The X-37B space plane, also known as the Orbital Test Vehicle, blasted off for its second mission aboard an unmanned Atlas 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Dec. 11, 2012.

The 29-foot-long (9-meter) robotic spaceship, which resembles a miniature space shuttle, is an experimental vehicle that first flew in April 2010. It returned after eight months. A second vehicle blasted off in March 2011 and stayed in orbit for 15 months.

The military has said the vehicles, built by Boeing, are designed to test technologies, though details of the missions are classified.

Last week, the Air Force and NASA finalized a lease agreement to relocate the X-37B program from California to Florida’s Kennedy Space Center. The military is studying using the space shuttle’s runway for landing, but said the X-37B currently in orbit will touch down at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, where the previous two missions also ended.
---
SMS ;-).

Offline DeanG1967

  • Member
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 167
  • Liked: 24
  • Likes Given: 11
Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #277 on: 10/14/2014 12:41 am »
Airfield is closed from 0800L to 1700L (1500Z to 0000Z) on 14 Oct

W532N and S is active SFC - UNL all day on the 14th (Warning area West and Northwest of Vandenberg). 

However, I don't see the restricted area around Vandenberg closed (R2516 usually goes hot before they land)


Offline Targeteer

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6153
  • near hangar 18
  • Liked: 3364
  • Likes Given: 1138
Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #278 on: 10/14/2014 04:40 am »
Here is the closest ground track pass of Vandenberg at about 1100 local from Heavens Above for today

http://www.heavens-above.com/gtrack.aspx?satid=39025&mjd=56944.7513756481

« Last Edit: 10/14/2014 04:45 am by Targeteer »
Best quote heard during an inspection, "I was unaware that I was the only one who was aware."

Offline Targeteer

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6153
  • near hangar 18
  • Liked: 3364
  • Likes Given: 1138
Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #279 on: 10/14/2014 04:52 am »
The closest track for Wednesday is a descending node.  Any idea whether the previous landings were ascending/descending ?
Best quote heard during an inspection, "I was unaware that I was the only one who was aware."

Tags:
 

Advertisement NovaTech
Advertisement Northrop Grumman
Advertisement
Advertisement Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island
Advertisement Brady Kenniston
Advertisement NextSpaceflight
Advertisement Nathan Barker Photography
0