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#480
by
Jim
on 02 Dec, 2010 01:05
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X-37 Questions:
1) If landing at Vandenberg AFB why not launch from SLC-3 at Vandenberg?
2) Why launch at CCAFS? Aren't polar orbits preferred for recon? Or is it that most mean people live within 60 degrees of the equator?
3) If launching at CCAFS why not land at the shuttle landing facility?
4) How do they haul X-37 across the continent? C-5?
5) What strategy is in place to support an urgent launch on need x-37 recon mission in the event of a national security contingency? Can another Atlas be utilized? Can a Delta IV be used?
6) Somewhat related, how fast can ULA manufacture an Atlas V?
Thanks
1 SLC-41 has more launch slots
2. Who said this is a recon mission
3. There is no overflight of populated areas to land at VAFB
4. Yes
5. Again, who said it is recon much less thatvX-37 is a quick response spacecraft
6. Not needed, Atlas can swap boosters
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#481
by
kevin-rf
on 02 Dec, 2010 12:55
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Dumb thought, wasn't the X-37 manufactured in California, and will be refurb'd in California (assuming they actually refly the airframe) , so landing at Vandenberg puts it "closer" to home. It's only that pesky launch part of it's life cycle the requires the cross country jaunt. It is experimental, if it goes operational and really is a optical recon bird that operationally needs a polar orbit, nothing stops it from using Vandenberg. It's not like it used something exotic like the Space Shuttle or Atlas V Heavy.
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#482
by
astropl
on 02 Dec, 2010 16:11
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Very interesting article is
here.
"Weather could interfere with Friday’s landing plans; Boltz said a rain system
moving south is creating a 60 percent likelihood the landing attempt would have to be delayed.
Officials have said the landing attempt could occur between Friday and Monday, with one shot for Friday, but multiple tries other days".
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#483
by
csmjr91090
on 02 Dec, 2010 22:20
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I almost hesitate to ask this question as I know details of this mission are classified etc...but does anyone know which direction the X-37B will approach VAFB? It seems now looking at the online track (if its indeed accurate) that its on a descending node, but if it reentered that way wouldn't it have more land overflight? Seems to me an ascending node similar to the shuttle's track to Edwards would keep it over the pacific longer.
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#484
by
CitabriaFlyer
on 03 Dec, 2010 00:18
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Would Jim or anyone care to speculate why so many resources would be spent on a technology demonstrator when the USAF has other problems: tanker woes, F-35, C-5 upgrade, spiraling personnel costs, and many others?
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#485
by
Jim
on 03 Dec, 2010 01:08
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Would Jim or anyone care to speculate why so many resources would be spent on a technology demonstrator when the USAF has other problems: tanker woes, F-35, C-5 upgrade, spiraling personnel costs, and many others?
Intelligence is first line of defense
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#486
by
Lee Jay
on 03 Dec, 2010 01:30
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2. Who said this is a recon mission
5. Again, who said it is recon much less thatvX-37 is a quick response spacecraft
Intelligence is first line of defense
Hmmmmm...
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#487
by
Jim
on 03 Dec, 2010 02:35
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2. Who said this is a recon mission
5. Again, who said it is recon much less thatvX-37 is a quick response spacecraft
Intelligence is first line of defense
Hmmmmm...
I did not contradict myself. X-37 is a technology demonstrator, not a reconsat
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#488
by
marshal
on 03 Dec, 2010 09:27
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X-37B space plane has returned to Earth
The U.S. military's experimental X-37B space plane, the prototype for an unmanned reusable space shuttle, landed early this morning at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. Touchdown occurred at 1:16 a.m. local time (4:16 a.m. EST; 0916 GMT).
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#489
by
marshal
on 03 Dec, 2010 09:28
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X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle lands at Vandenberg AFB
Posted 12/3/2010 Updated 12/3/2010 Email story Print story
30th Space Wing Public Affairs
12/3/2010 - VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The U.S. Air Force's first unmanned re-entry spacecraft landed at Vandenberg Air Force Base at 1:16 a.m. today.
The X-37B, named Orbital Test Vehicle 1 (OTV-1), conducted on-orbit experiments for more than 220 days during its maiden voyage. It fired its orbital maneuver engine in low-earth orbit to perform an autonomous reentry before landing.
The X-37B is the newest and most advanced re-entry spacecraft. Managed by the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office (AFRCO), the X-37B program performs risk reduction, experimentation and concept of operations development for reusable space vehicle technologies.
"Today's landing culminates a successful mission based on close teamwork between the 30th Space Wing, Boeing and the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office," said Lt Col Troy Giese, X-37B program manager from the AFRCO. "We are very pleased that the program completed all the on-orbit objectives for the first mission."
OTV-1's de-orbit and landing mark the transition from the on-orbit demonstration phase to a refurbishment phase for the program.
The Air Force is preparing to launch the next X-37B, OTV-2, in Spring 2011 aboard an Atlas V booster.
http://www.vandenberg.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123233195
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#490
by
JosephB
on 03 Dec, 2010 10:37
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Excellent. Nice work!
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#491
by
Chris Bergin
on 03 Dec, 2010 13:10
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#492
by
yoann37
on 03 Dec, 2010 13:41
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just added landing video on my youtube channel for easy viewing. ( ie8 give me an error when i try download video)
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#493
by
rdale
on 03 Dec, 2010 13:45
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Nice work! Did you get any video from it in the air? How did you even get in the base?
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#494
by
JimO
on 03 Dec, 2010 14:12
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Hope we get to see video & pics (even if it's after the week of landing)!
Landing will probably be shortly after midnight local time.
I had told my news media clients "1:30 AM PST".
[modestly clears throat]
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#495
by
Rocket Guy
on 03 Dec, 2010 14:18
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#496
by
simonbp
on 03 Dec, 2010 15:40
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Intelligence is first line of defense
Which is another way of saying the space reconnaissance budget never gets questioned by Congress, and so they are able to get away with such luxuries as X-37B. Whether that's correct or not is a separate issue.
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#497
by
JosephB
on 03 Dec, 2010 18:48
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Hope we get to see video & pics (even if it's after the week of landing)!
Landing will probably be shortly after midnight local time.
I had told my news media clients "1:30 AM PST".
[modestly clears throat]
Got a chuckle on that. Jim shot a 3 pointer. All net.
Makes me wonder what else he knows!
BTW, I can’t believe there hasn’t been any speculation yet about something very obvious in the video.
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#498
by
Lee Jay
on 03 Dec, 2010 18:51
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BTW, I can’t believe there hasn’t been any speculation yet about something very obvious in the video.
Do you mean the thing sticking out of the top? Looks like the speed brake to me.
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#499
by
rdale
on 03 Dec, 2010 18:51
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I think he's talking about the pickup truck driving up behind it.
