What is needed to launch X-37B on Falcon 9?

[Jim]

Again, people are testing too much into this. 
Actually, the X-37 award is no big deal.  It still is not a front line DOD spacecraft.  The project can take some risk.  After all, a loss of an X-37 does not affect or reduce the DOD space force structure

[Tomness]

As low risk as this is, SpaceX could throw in free drift cargo dragon if something was to happen and needed redunent capabilities

[DOCinCT]

I think it's pretty amazing that SX has landed a contract for an X37b launch after a single NROL launch.

Given the efforts USAF procurement made to give ULA that 36 core bulk order I think it says a lot about how well SX have been able to establish a good working relationship with the USAF.

TBH I never thought the USAF would switch launchers for the X37b after 4 successful missions on Atlas V. Whether this is a permanent switch, or will continue on a mission by mission basis, only time will tell. 

As commented on above, this contract probably has been in place for a while.  What the USAF needed was a demonstration of reliability for the Falcon9; add to that the demonstrated ability of SpaceX to handle classified payloads. 
The User Guide has a 30 day nominal flow from payload delivery to roll-out.
A normal launch integration schedule lasts about 24 months from contract signing. The launch campaign starts about 3 months prior to launch. 
Mating the payload and encapsulating with the fairing is done vertically.

[Jim]

As low risk as this is, SpaceX could throw in free drift cargo dragon if something was to happen and needed redunent capabilities

you can't say that.  You don't know what X-37 is providing to the payload

[ChrisGebhardt]

Again, people are testing too much into this. 
Actually, the X-37 award is no big deal.  It still is not a front line DOD spacecraft.  The project can take some risk.  After all, a loss of an X-37 does not affect our reduce the DOD space force structure

Overall, I take your point.  X-37B is vehicle agnostic.  It's how it was designed.  In that sense, whether it launches on a Falcon 9 or an Atlas V is irrelevant.

However, I disagree that the contract award to SpaceX "is no big deal".  On the contrary, it speaks volumes to how far SpaceX has come in just a short period and how they're successfully continuing to challenge the norm of spaceflight operations.  Until a few years ago, ULA held a monopoly on Air Force launches because there was no other provider who could compete in the same market.  And certainly there are missions coming that Falcon 9 isn't suited for but ULA's rockets are.  But the fact that SpaceX has broken ULA's monopoly on Air Force launches by not just existing but continuing to show that they can conform to U.S. government standards while still keeping prices low and competitive and earning the continued trust of the government-as-customer is a big deal.  And the confidence the Air Force sees in their dealings with SpaceX and the improvements to the Falcon 9 is also a big deal.  This contract didn't have to go to SpaceX.  But the fact that it did shows confidence from the Air Force.  And while I agree that this contract was likely in place well before NROL-76 launched last month, I can't imagine a scenario where the Air Force wasn't watching the process a fellow national security agency went through - with both SpaceX and Air Force taking away lessons on how to work together.

In that regard, this contract award is a big deal.

[Jim]

In that regard, this contract award is a big deal.

Not a big deal.  Only because of that it is X-37 and its mystery and wings, people are blowing it out of proportion. This is on the same level of an STP spacecraft or DSCOVR.  It is an experimental spacecraft.  It isn't SBIRS, AEHF or an operational NROL spacecraft.

I can't imagine a scenario where the Air Force wasn't watching the process a fellow national security agency went through - with both SpaceX and Air Force taking away lessons on how to work together.

NROL didn't buy the ride for NROL-76, it was Ball Aerospace.  Not the same.  Also, the USAF already had bought a ride from Spacex, DSCOVR.

[llanitedave]

In that regard, this contract award is a big deal.

Not a big deal.  Only because of that it is X-37 and its mystery and wings, people are blowing it out of proportion. This is on the same level of an STP spacecraft or DSCOVR.  It is an experimental spacecraft.  It isn't SBIRS, AEHF or an operational NROL spacecraft.

I can't imagine a scenario where the Air Force wasn't watching the process a fellow national security agency went through - with both SpaceX and Air Force taking away lessons on how to work together.

NROL didn't buy the ride for NROL-76, it was Ball Aerospace.  Not the same.  Also, the USAF already had bought a ride from Spacex, DSCOVR.

Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson acted like it was a big deal.

[Lar]

...
The launch campaign starts about 3 months prior to launch. 
...

In other words, it's already underway, in essence. (and thanks for the timeline reminder, which I snipped)

Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson acted like it was a big deal.

PR? "see how responsive we are? now give us more money"

[John-H]

...
The launch campaign starts about 3 months prior to launch. 
...

In other words, it's already underway, in essence. (and thanks for the timeline reminder, which I snipped)

Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson acted like it was a big deal.

PR? "see how responsive we are? now give us more money"

Perhaps the main point of the contract was to show that the X-37 could be launched on more than one vehicle. It is an experiment and the Air Force does want to try out as many variations as possible.

John

Edit/Lar: Fix quotes

[VIY]

Why nobody considers the fact that launching with SpaceX, X37b will not use russian engines anymore. Military vehicle is normal to launch with all US made launcher, at last. The situation till now was not normal.

[Jim]

...
The launch campaign starts about 3 months prior to launch. 
...

In other words, it's already underway, in essence. (and thanks for the timeline reminder, which I snipped)

Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson acted like it was a big deal.

PR? "see how responsive we are? now give us more money"

Perhaps the main point of the contract was to show that the X-37 could be launched on more than one vehicle. It is an experiment and the Air Force does want to try out as many variations as possible.

John

Edit/Lar: Fix quotes

It doesn't need to actually fly to prove this.  It was also was to fly on Delta IV

[Jim]

Why nobody considers the fact that launching with SpaceX, X37b will not use russian engines anymore. Military vehicle is normal to launch with all US made launcher, at last. The situation till now was not normal.

And why does that matter in this case?

[Lar]

Perhaps the main point of the contract was to show that the X-37 could be launched on more than one vehicle. It is an experiment and the Air Force does want to try out as many variations as possible.
 

It doesn't need to actually fly to prove this.  It was also was to fly on Delta IV

That's an interesting assertion, can you explain that for those of us not quite as nimble? Doesn't it have to actually launch to prove it can launch? Theoretical calculations (as this thread did earlier) and fit tests are good but not conclusive, no?

Why nobody considers the fact that launching with SpaceX, X37b will not use russian engines anymore. Military vehicle is normal to launch with all US made launcher, at last. The situation till now was not normal.

And why does that matter in this case?

PR?

[Kabloona]

Why nobody considers the fact that launching with SpaceX, X37b will not use russian engines anymore. Military vehicle is normal to launch with all US made launcher, at last. The situation till now was not normal.

The Air Force's main focus is getting the BE-4 replacement for the RD-180. This F9 launch is a step in the right direction, but not the ultimate solution. Note how Lt Gen Bunch specifically mentions getting off the 180 as soon as possible (and onto BE-4).

http://www.investors.com/news/air-force-moving-forward-after-setback-in-plans-end-russian-rocket-engine-use/

[VIY]

Why nobody considers the fact that launching with SpaceX, X37b will not use russian engines anymore. Military vehicle is normal to launch with all US made launcher, at last. The situation till now was not normal.

And why does that matter in this case?

May be because decreasing the dependence on foreign key parts is more important than business.

[Jim]

Why nobody considers the fact that launching with SpaceX, X37b will not use russian engines anymore. Military vehicle is normal to launch with all US made launcher, at last. The situation till now was not normal.

And why does that matter in this case?

May be because decreasing the dependence on foreign key parts is more important than business.

It doesn't matter in this case because X-37 is not a front line DOD spacecraft. 

[john smith 19]

Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson acted like it was a big deal.

PR? "see how responsive we are? now give us more money"

Not really.

That would be the job of DARPA's XS-1

[JamesH65]

Why nobody considers the fact that launching with SpaceX, X37b will not use russian engines anymore. Military vehicle is normal to launch with all US made launcher, at last. The situation till now was not normal.

And why does that matter in this case?

May be because decreasing the dependence on foreign key parts is more important than business.

It doesn't matter in this case because X-37 is not a front line DOD spacecraft.

Since we have no idea of the payloads, can this assertion be made with any confidence? Or can launch cadence/necessity give some inkling that is is not particularly important?

[Jim]

Since we have no idea of the payloads, can this assertion be made with any confidence?

yes, the orbits define those

[ChrisGebhardt]

Since we have no idea of the payloads, can this assertion be made with any confidence?

yes, the orbits define those

To clarify... is the assertion here that DOD payloads have never and will absolutely never go to LEO, even for testing?