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#440
by
Ben the Space Brit
on 24 Nov, 2010 13:41
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Right, it is to be relaunched within a week of landing. But it's still happily orbiting, so no idea when that clock will start.
There is no discussion of re-lauching it for now. The second flight of the X-37B will be a different spacecraft. After those two flights, we don't know what will happen.
I fully expect that this vehicle will go back to the manufacturer (Phantom Works?). There it will be stripped down to the space frame so that every little bit of diagnostic and forensic data about how the vehicle performed and survived months in LEO can be determined.
The second vehicle, depending on the resulting analysis, may be re-launched to test the reusability of the design. However, I'll bet that decision will be only pencilled in until after the analysis of vehicle 1 is complete. If component or other redesign is needed, the third flight may not go ahead at all and the lessons simply applied to the next generation test (or even operational) design.
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#441
by
ChrisGebhardt
on 24 Nov, 2010 16:54
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I just saw on spaceflightnow.com that the X37B maybe coming to an end. Anybody got any updates.
As the article states, no one can have any updates because the mission is classified. The article itself is based off of amateur observations; nothing more, nothing less. The article claims the mission is coming to end. In reality, the X-37B could stay in orbit until mid-January. So, basically, all the article is telling us is that the X-37B will be landing sometime in the next 60 days.
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#442
by
Antares
on 24 Nov, 2010 17:11
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There is no discussion of re-lauching it for now.
The OTV-2 launch in March is a different spacecraft?
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#443
by
Skyrocket
on 24 Nov, 2010 17:32
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There is no discussion of re-lauching it for now.
The OTV-2 launch in March is a different spacecraft?
Yes, different vehicle.
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#444
by
vt_hokie
on 25 Nov, 2010 03:17
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So what are the odds that we get to see footage of the landing? (After the fact, of course...)
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#445
by
rdale
on 25 Nov, 2010 03:26
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Experts say that publicly releasing the video has a 50 - 50 chance of happening, though there's only a 10 percent chance of that.
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#446
by
JosephB
on 26 Nov, 2010 22:17
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I just saw on spaceflightnow.com that the X37B maybe coming to an end. Anybody got any updates.
As the article states, no one can have any updates because the mission is classified. The article itself is based off of amateur observations; nothing more, nothing less. The article claims the mission is coming to end. In reality, the X-37B could stay in orbit until mid-January. So, basically, all the article is telling us is that the X-37B will be landing sometime in the next 60 days.
Layperson question if I may, the article also states:
40 degree inclination at 174 -182 mi. altitude and
a ground track that nearly repeats itself every few days.
This repeating ground track lends credence to an imagery collection mission.
Now, any classified spacecraft thread is by definition going to have speculation. I was just wondering how much one can read into the ground track characteristic and its implication on imagery collection. Is the frequency of “every few days” unusual for satellites in general?
Also, I would imagine data is sent down via TDRSS (something similar to Shuttle’s stowable dish?) in case the landing isn’t nominal.
Thanks in advance for any speculative commentary.
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#447
by
Jim
on 26 Nov, 2010 23:24
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Is the frequency of “every few days” unusual for satellites in general?
Also, I would imagine data is sent down via TDRSS (something similar to Shuttle’s stowable dish?) in case the landing isn’t nominal.
Thanks in advance for any speculative commentary.
1. Repeating ground tracks is not uncommon. Shuttle did it for non imagery missions. It is for landing opportunities.
2. 40 degree inclination is basically useless for reconn. Doesn't go north enough
3. since it is not sun synchronous, lighting s would be an issue.
4. Imagery data would not be kept onboard.
5. The payload capability is only 500 lbs.
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#448
by
Jim
on 28 Nov, 2010 11:34
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2. 40 degree inclination is basically useless for reconn. Doesn't go north enough
At greater inclination might be a some sort of problem with the shadowless orbits during a long flight.
no, it can use a sun synchronous which means it passes over points on earth as the same time each day
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#449
by
Jim
on 28 Nov, 2010 12:51
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Jim, I'm referring to the possible restrictions on the beta angle (as for a large space shuttle) as an explanation for limiting the inclination. No connection with solar synchronous orbits.
Not applicable. Beta angle restrictions are mostly shuttle unique (another example of people applying the shuttle paradigm to other space systems). This only exists because the orbiter is docked to the ISS and therefore is constrained to ISS attitude and must accept the thermal environment associated with those attitudes and ones that aren't acceptable are avoided (beta angle restrictions). A free flying spacecraft can maneuver and to avoid attitudes that cause thermal problems.
Also, a "sun" synchronous orbit can be used to avoid the sun.
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#450
by
edkyle99
on 28 Nov, 2010 15:32
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2. 40 degree inclination is basically useless for reconn. Doesn't go north enough
40 degrees covers all of Iraq and Afghanistan, where U.S. forces are active (and, of course, Iran, where things of interest are happening). It also covers most of the Korean Peninsula, where (God help us) they may soon be active. This raises the possibility of some type of tactical capability experiment. Like you, I am skeptical of a pure imaging mission, though there is a thing called "angle diversity" in that business that such an orbit could address.
- Ed Kyle
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#451
by
bkellysky
on 29 Nov, 2010 10:04
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Didn't see the X-37 this morning, which was predicted by Heavens-Above to pass through Leo for my location near New York City. But I had the camera out, so I may have been distracted a bit.
Venus, Saturn and the Moon were nice, however.
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#452
by
kevin-rf
on 29 Nov, 2010 17:42
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Latest SeeSat post on it:
http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Nov-2010/0332.htmlObservations by Greg Roberts late on 2010 Nov 28 UTC, and Alberto Rango, early on Nov 29 UTC, reveal
an apparent small manoeuvre downward of about 1.2 km.
Given the short arc, the following should be considered preliminary.
X-37B OTV 1-1 284 X 287 km
1 36514U 10015A 10333.18496034 .00024512 00000-0 54109-4 0 01
2 36514 39.9919 75.6811 0002161 32.6011 327.4949 15.96957137 03
Arc 20101128.8-1129.2 WRMS resid 0.045 totl 0.022 xtrk
I considered the possibility that drag was responsible for the lower orbit, but an increase of about
ten-fold would have been required, which is not supported by the solar flux and geomagnetic
activity.
The change of orbit appears to have occurred on Nov 28, around 06 h UTC.
Ted Molczan
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#453
by
scottmsg
on 30 Nov, 2010 23:10
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Preparations underway for first landing of X-37B11/30/2010 - VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Preparations for the first landing of the X-37B are underway at Vandenberg Air Force Base.
Space professionals from the 30th Space Wing will monitor the de-orbit and landing of the Air Force's first X-37B, called the Orbital Test Vehicle 1 (OTV-1). While the exact landing date and time will depend on technical and weather considerations, it is expected to occur between Friday, December 3, and Monday, December 6, 2010.
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#454
by
JosephB
on 30 Nov, 2010 23:47
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Hope we get to see video & pics (even if it's after the week of landing)!
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#455
by
butters
on 01 Dec, 2010 00:08
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Cool. I wonder what it looks like when an autonomous lifting body flares out of a dive for a runway landing at nearly 300mph!
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#456
by
Namechange User
on 01 Dec, 2010 00:15
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Cool. I wonder what it looks like when an autonomous lifting body flares out of a dive for a runway landing at nearly 300mph!
See STS-1 through STS-132 landing videos.
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#457
by
Pheogh
on 01 Dec, 2010 00:19
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anybody want to venture to guess if this is secret enough that it won't be covered?
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#458
by
Jim
on 01 Dec, 2010 00:27
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anybody want to venture to guess if this is secret enough that it won't be covered?
It doesnt have to do with secrecy. The USAF doesn't always cover events like these
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#459
by
Mark Max Q
on 01 Dec, 2010 00:27
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Cool. I wonder what it looks like when an autonomous lifting body flares out of a dive for a runway landing at nearly 300mph!
See STS-1 through STS-132 landing videos.
Boom. Right there, OV-106 with the win
Boom. Right there, OV-106 with the win 