LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012

[Satori]

Our article, with eyewitness report

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/10/third-x-37b-returns-home-two-years-space/

Great reportage !

No tire damage:after two years, just wondering if they did some service before landing, at least to inflate them.

I second that! Great article indeed!

[Rocket Science]

I third that! Eyewittness report and double sonic booms! Robo-Shuttle does it again... Film at 11?

[edkyle99]

No tire damage:after two years, just wondering if they did some service before landing, at least to inflate them.

Impressive, isn't it, that something like that can orbit for that long in the temperature extremes and vacuum of space and then, when needed, after being exposed to extreme reentry heating, all of its control surfaces, tires, wheels, and brakes work?

 - Ed Kyle

[Chris Bergin]

Video and images!!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
From: 30th Space Wing Public Affairs, www.vandenberg.af.mil

X-37B ORBITAL TEST VEHICLE-3 LANDS AT VANDENBERG AFB

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -  Video imagery of the X-37B Orbital Test
Vehicle-3 landing can be viewed at the posted YouTube link below.





For still images, visit the Vandenberg Air Force Base Facebook page; link
below.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153540971359897.1073742042.95781119896&type=1

- 30 -

[ChrisC]

Oh, hell yes.

[collectSPACE]

For still images, visit the Vandenberg Air Force Base Facebook page

Better quality versions of the same photos on Facebook here:
http://www.vandenberg.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123428671

[ChrisC]

High resolution photos (10 of them) are available at:

http://www.vandenberg.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123428671

(possibly the same ones as at the Facebook link above, without the FB tracking ...)

EDIT: dang, Robert beat me to it

[robertross]

Video and images!!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
From: 30th Space Wing Public Affairs, www.vandenberg.af.mil

X-37B ORBITAL TEST VEHICLE-3 LANDS AT VANDENBERG AFB

Wow, what an entrance!

That just screams awesomeness.

I thank the US military for that release. That made my day.

[catdlr]

The following is a news release from Vandenberg AFB:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
From: 30th Space Wing Public Affairs, www.vandenberg.af.mil

X-37B ORBITAL TEST VEHICLE-3 LANDS AT VANDENBERG AFB

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -  The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle mission
3 (OTV-3), the Air Force's unmanned, reusable space plane, landed at
Vandenberg Air Force Base at 9:24 a.m. Oct. 17 .

"The 30th Space Wing and our mission partners, Air Force Rapid Capabilities
Office, Boeing, and our base support contractors, have put countless hours
of hard work into preparing for this landing and today we were able to see
the culmination of that dedication," said Col Keith Balts, 30th Space Wing
commander.

"I'm extremely proud of our team for coming together to execute this third
safe and successful landing.  Everyone from our on console space operators
to our airfield managers and civil engineers take pride in this unique
mission and exemplify excellence during its execution."
The OTV-3 conducted on-orbit experiments for 674 days during its mission,
extending the total number of days spent on-orbit for the OTV program to
1367 days.

"The landing of OTV-3 marks a  hallmark event for the program" said the
X-37B program manager.

"The mission is our longest to date and we're pleased with the incremental
progress we've seen in our testing of the reusable space plane. The
dedication and hard work by the entire team has made us extremely proud."
The X-37B is the newest and most advanced re-entry spacecraft.  Managed by
the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, the X-37B program performs risk
reduction, experimentation and concept of operations development for
reusable space vehicle technologies.

The Air Force is preparing to launch the fourth X-37B mission from Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station in 2015.
______________________________________________________________

[deadman719]

Does anyone else find the shape of the flaperon interesting?  What would be the purpose of the apparent twist?

[Jeff Lerner]

I'm impressed with the overall appearance of the vehicle...seems to be in quite a good condition after spending so much time in space....

[Lee Jay]

Does anyone else find the shape of the flaperon interesting?  What would be the purpose of the apparent twist?

Prevent tip stall (i.e. washout)?  Keep tip heating down during entry?

[Targeteer]

The main engine is offset correct?  Why do that?

[Lee Jay]

The main engine is offset correct?  Why do that?

Make room for something on the left?  Like a fuel or pressurization tank maybe?

[edkyle99]

The main engine is offset correct?  Why do that?

I think that original plans called for two engines, or at least for the possibility of two engines, but only one has been used in practice so far.  There was a drawing long ago that showed two.

 - Ed Kyle

[Targeteer]

https://www.facebook.com/30thSpaceWing/photos/a.97094879896.77266.95781119896/10153541383784897/?type=1&theater

"Touchdown! Behind the cool pictures of the vehicle there are hundreds of down-to-earth people who literally brought the X-37B down to Earth! They may be humble, but they made history! An amazing team: mission support professionals around the whole base, technicians on the flight line, operators in the ops centers, analysts crunching the numbers and so many others. The game ball (boomerang) went to the primary Range team who truly put some awe into this awesome accomplishment."

Decoding the picture for those unfamiliar with the Air Force   The folks in the middle, 1 Capt, 2 1LTs, an enlisted Airmen (can't see the stripes) and 1 civilian who did all the work. On the end, 2 Cols who horn in on the picture and take all the credit on their yearly officer performance reports (OPRs)--"skillfully directed team members resulting in successful recovery of high-value, classified asset..."

[A12]

Helodriver, Is the noise hearable in the footage coming from a chase plane or it is just her real noise ?

[Star One]

What's the purpose of the the big pipe you can see being attached to it, is it cooling something onboard?

[plutogno]

What's the purpose of the the big pipe you can see being attached to it, is it cooling something onboard?

draining of hypergolic fuel, probably

[Star One]

What's the purpose of the the big pipe you can see being attached to it, is it cooling something onboard?

draining of hypergolic fuel, probably

Thanks, hence the guys in the environmental suits.

I see yet again people have been saying it has been carrying out reconnaissance, I don't believe this I think it's doing what they say they it's doing that's materials & technology testing & validation through long term exposure to space.