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Boeing to use Orbiter Processing Facility-1 for X-37B OTV
by
collectSPACE
on 04 Jan, 2014 15:33
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Boeing to use former space shuttle hangar for secret space planehttp://www.collectspace.com/news/news-010414a-x37b-shuttle-hangar.htmlA former NASA space shuttle hangar will serve as the new home and servicing facility for a fleet of secretive military space planes.
The Boeing Company announced on Friday (Jan. 3) it will begin converting Orbiter Processing Facility-1 (OPF-1) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to support the U.S. Air Force X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV). Built by Boeing's Phantom Works, the winged X-37B resembles in some ways a smaller version of NASA's shuttle with a 15-foot (4.5 m.) wingspan.
The move to use OPF-1 will "enable the U.S. Air Force to efficiently land, recover, refurbish, and re-launch" the 29-foot-long (8.8 m.), reusable unmanned spacecraft, Boeing officials said in a statement.
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#1
by
yg1968
on 04 Jan, 2014 15:57
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#2
by
Star One
on 04 Jan, 2014 16:36
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This had been on the cards for a while now hasn't it, sure I saw something about this proposal in Spaceflight magazine last year.
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#3
by
Flightstar
on 04 Jan, 2014 16:50
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This had been on the cards for a while now hasn't it, sure I saw something about this proposal in Spaceflight magazine last year.
It's been reported numerous times as a likely option by NASAspaceflight.com, for a few years. Do a search.
Here's a thread for the 2012 story.
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=30182.0
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#4
by
collectSPACE
on 04 Jan, 2014 17:06
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Suggested? Yes. But before Friday it wasn't confirmed or official.
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#5
by
Jester
on 04 Jan, 2014 17:19
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Nice to see its finally official, now lets hope they grab the SLF too.
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#6
by
Star One
on 04 Jan, 2014 19:03
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It suggests that the X-37B program has a lengthier future than just a few test flights. Wonder if they will manufacturer more vehicles, considering how long they stay in orbit perhaps they might keep more than one in orbit at once.
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#7
by
Blackstar
on 05 Jan, 2014 22:04
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It suggests that the X-37B program has a lengthier future than just a few test flights. Wonder if they will manufacturer more vehicles, considering how long they stay in orbit perhaps they might keep more than one in orbit at once.
Which only emphasizes the question of what are they doing.
This is obviously an operational, not experimental mission. And the fact that it is USAF and not NRO is unusual for such a classified mission (although it is entirely possible that USAF is merely the cover for NRO).
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#8
by
Lars_J
on 08 Jan, 2014 16:16
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It suggests that the X-37B program has a lengthier future than just a few test flights. Wonder if they will manufacturer more vehicles, considering how long they stay in orbit perhaps they might keep more than one in orbit at once.
Which only emphasizes the question of what are they doing.
This is obviously an operational, not experimental mission. And the fact that it is USAF and not NRO is unusual for such a classified mission (although it is entirely possible that USAF is merely the cover for NRO).
It is likely both, isn't? An
operational vehicle to test
experimental payloads for extended periods in space.
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#9
by
Star One
on 30 Oct, 2014 17:30
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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. — After a 22-year hiatus, NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense are resuming a partnership for a classified program that will be based at the Kennedy Space Center.
NASA flew secret missions for the military 10 times between January 1985 and December 1992, setting up a separate firing room, blacking out communications and abiding by a host of restrictions and operational procedures to accommodate the Defense Department’s demand for secrecy. This time around, NASA intends to be nothing more than a host for the Air Force’s classified X-37B program, which will lease two of the space shuttle’s mothballed processing hangars.
“It is different from shuttle. It’s not the same vehicle that has to flow through the [Vehicle Assembly Building] and that does a lot of the same shuttle operations [as nonclassified missions]. X-37B is basically a separable capability in one facility,” Scott Colloredo, director of KSC’s Center Planning and Development Directorate, told SpaceNews.
Rest on link.
http://www.spacenews.com/article/military-space/42367nasa-prepares-to-host-hush-hush-military-program-at-ksc
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#10
by
Jim
on 14 Nov, 2014 01:17
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Standard back of OPF bay. Notice door.
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#11
by
Jim
on 14 Nov, 2014 01:22
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#12
by
Helodriver
on 14 Nov, 2014 01:38
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As small as these vehicles are, the fact they are getting two OPFs only makes sense if the fleet is expanding or a larger follow on vehicle is planned.
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#13
by
sdsds
on 14 Nov, 2014 02:21
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So is it reasonable to conclude the content of the X-37B payload bay is orientation sensitive before launch? It requires vertical integration not only with the LV but also with the spacecraft?
Also, is the front door of the OPF already high enough for X-37B to roll out encapsulated and vertical?
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#14
by
Jim
on 14 Nov, 2014 02:28
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As small as these vehicles are, the fact they are getting two OPFs only makes sense if the fleet is expanding or a larger follow on vehicle is planned.
They are only getting one. Another is for CST-100 and one is unclaimed.
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#15
by
Jim
on 14 Nov, 2014 02:32
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1. So is it reasonable to conclude the content of the X-37B payload bay is orientation sensitive before launch? It requires vertical integration not only with the LV but also with the spacecraft?
2. Also, is the front door of the OPF already high enough for X-37B to roll out encapsulated and vertical?
1. I wouldn't say so. The vehicle could be serviced horizontally and then rotated vertical for encapsulation.
2. I don't think so. Why else would they install a new door that is sized for an encapsulated X-37 to leave.
Notice the AC duct rework.
Maybe there is an airlock installed on the other side. Opening the front door, opens the whole facility to the outside.
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#16
by
Mike_1179
on 14 Nov, 2014 04:17
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Maybe there is an airlock installed on the other side. Opening the front door, opens the whole facility to the outside.
That would assume the inside of the OPF would now be a clean room, right?
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#17
by
Helodriver
on 14 Nov, 2014 05:48
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As small as these vehicles are, the fact they are getting two OPFs only makes sense if the fleet is expanding or a larger follow on vehicle is planned.
They are only getting one. Another is for CST-100 and one is unclaimed.
The linked article above states they're getting two. "The X-37B program, which currently consists of two nearly 9-meter-long robotic spaceplanes, is taking over Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) bays 1 and 2. "
I trust your firsthand knowledge more than a random reporter though.
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#18
by
Jim
on 14 Nov, 2014 10:48
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That would assume the inside of the OPF would now be a clean room, right?
The facility at one time was capable of supporting a clean area.
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#19
by
Mike_1179
on 14 Nov, 2014 11:18
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The facility at one time was capable of supporting a clean area.
Would that allow them to do payload processing in there as well as work on the X-37 itself in the same building?
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#20
by
Jim
on 30 Mar, 2016 19:27
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Drove by the OPF-2 and the main door was open. It was completely gutted and empty.
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#21
by
edkyle99
on 30 Mar, 2016 19:46
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Re: the new, vertically-oriented door. Could this be for payloads coming into the building for integration with X-37B, rather than for an X-37B leaving the building?
- Ed Kyle
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#22
by
virnin
on 30 Mar, 2016 20:02
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Maybe there is an airlock installed on the other side. Opening the front door, opens the whole facility to the outside.
That would assume the inside of the OPF would now be a clean room, right?
Not necessarily just to support a clean room, could be intended to protect the contents of the building from casual surveillance when the outer door is open, especially if there are two vehicles in the launch rotation.
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#23
by
Jim
on 31 Mar, 2016 00:04
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Re: the new, vertically-oriented door. Could this be for payloads coming into the building for integration with X-37B, rather than for an X-37B leaving the building?
It is sized for an Atlas 5m fairing. The X-37 payloads could fit through a double door. But that doesn't mean the same door could be used for both directions.
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#24
by
Jim
on 31 Mar, 2016 00:05
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Not necessarily just to support a clean room, could be intended to protect the contents of the building from casual surveillance when the outer door is open, especially if there are two vehicles in the launch rotation.
There are easy work arounds for that, which don't need an airlock.
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#25
by
Ronsmytheiii
on 31 Mar, 2016 01:42
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#26
by
jacqmans
on 04 Apr, 2016 09:46
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#27
by
Ronsmytheiii
on 04 Apr, 2016 20:15
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#28
by
Jim
on 01 Oct, 2016 00:55
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New door opening on OPF-2