Author Topic: SpaceX Falcon 9 : X-37B OTV-5 : September 7, 2017 : DISCUSSION (Read 251081 times)

Joffan · « **Reply #480 on:** 03/05/2019 06:56 pm »

Quote from: brettreds2k on 03/05/2019 06:38 pm

Is the X37 from this SpaceX Launch still in orbit? I havent heard anything about the X37 project in a while.

Yes, still in orbit. If it matches the previous mission, it'll land in September this year. But I think it'll land sometime this year; the last two missions were around two years each. Not hearing anything about secret missions is unsurprising

https://www.space.com/43153-x-37b-military-space-plane-500-days.html

brettreds2k · « **Reply #481 on:** 03/06/2019 11:13 am »

Thank you both!!

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #482 on:** 03/06/2019 10:01 pm »

I may have asked this before; apologies if it was answered before.

Is there any known operational reason why both OTVs could not both fly simultaneously? Not necessarily rendezvous-ed, just in 2 distinct orbits simultaneously?

Therefore, must this OTV land before the next OTV flight (NET Dec. 2019)?

russianhalo117 · « **Reply #483 on:** 03/07/2019 04:02 am »

Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 03/06/2019 10:01 pm

I may have asked this before; apologies if it was answered before.

Is there any known operational reason why both OTVs could not both fly simultaneously? Not necessarily rendezvous-ed, just in 2 distinct orbits simultaneously?

Therefore, must this OTV land before the next OTV flight (NET Dec. 2019)?

No there is not. STS could have flown simultaneous flights but refurbishment precluded.

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #484 on:** 08/28/2019 05:04 pm »

Re: this in the update thread

Do "we" know which of the two OTV spacecraft was used for Flight 4 and is being used for Flight 5?

I thought that information was confirmed only for the first three flights; seeking confirmation or correction.

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #485 on:** 10/27/2019 08:37 am »

Well.....it has just landed in the middle of the night today at 07:51 UTC (3:51 am Eastern).

https://twitter.com/NASA_Nerd/status/1188382491431882752

Star One · « **Reply #486 on:** 10/27/2019 08:53 am »

Looking at the press release is that the first time we’ve seen an official statement of it carrying small satellites?

SMS · « **Reply #487 on:** 10/27/2019 09:09 am »

https://twitter.com/NASA_Nerd/status/1188382491431882752

SMS · « **Reply #488 on:** 10/27/2019 09:15 am »

https://twitter.com/NASA_Nerd/status/1188393897589968899

SMS · « **Reply #489 on:** 10/27/2019 09:19 am »

03:51 am EDT = 07:51 UTC = 08:51 CET

so duration is:
OTV-5/OTV-1 F3/USA-277 779days17h51min;

jacqmans · « **Reply #490 on:** 10/27/2019 09:35 am »

Quote from: SMS on 10/27/2019 09:19 am

03:51 am EDT = 07:51 UTC = 08:51 CET

so duration is:
OTV-5/OTV-1 F3/USA-277 779days17h51min;

Clocks moved in Europe this morning

03:51 = 07:51 UTC = 09:51 CET

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #491 on:** 10/27/2019 10:24 am »

https://twitter.com/NASA_Nerd/status/1188415230822490117

SMS · « **Reply #492 on:** 10/27/2019 10:39 am »

Now is Central European Time (CET), UTC +1

Clocks will move in USA next week!

eeergo · « **Reply #493 on:** 10/27/2019 12:31 pm »

What's that protuberance, a star tracker? In previous OTV missions where pictures of the aft were published that structure was absent and the maneuvering engine more centered (see OTV-1 and OTV-4 photos attached below OTV-5's).

Jester · « **Reply #494 on:** 10/27/2019 12:43 pm »

Quote from: eeergo on 10/27/2019 12:31 pm

What's that protuberance, a star tracker? In previous OTV missions where pictures of the aft were published that structure was absent and the maneuvering engine more centered (see OTV-1 and OTV-4 photos attached below OTV-5's).

These are all not OTV-5 images, the top image is OTV-4 and shows an hall effect ion thruster that was being tested

eeergo · « **Reply #495 on:** 10/27/2019 12:46 pm »

Quote from: Jester on 10/27/2019 12:43 pm

Quote from: eeergo on 10/27/2019 12:31 pm
What's that protuberance, a star tracker? In previous OTV missions where pictures of the aft were published that structure was absent and the maneuvering engine more centered (see OTV-1 and OTV-4 photos attached below OTV-5's).

These are all not OTV-5 images, the top image is OTV-4 and shows an hall effect ion thruster that was being tested

I see, I mistakenly thought it was a pic from the early hours of the morning in Florida, not from years ago

Thanks for the insight into the protuberance though!

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #496 on:** 10/27/2019 05:09 pm »

From Seesat-l:
A report, after one veteran observer missed a favorable pass of the OTV, that it had lowered its orbit on October 18 to 264 x 284 km.

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #497 on:** 10/27/2019 05:45 pm »

Were there any NOTAMs? If so, please post it/them to the updates thread.

vaporcobra · « **Reply #498 on:** 10/29/2019 03:46 am »

Quote from: Jester on 10/27/2019 12:00 pm

originals from af.mil

A few more

WulfTheSaxon · « **Reply #499 on:** 10/29/2019 06:28 pm »

Quote from: Jester on 10/27/2019 04:24 pm

https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1999734/x-37b-breaks-record-lands-after-780-days-in-orbit/

“This mission successfully hosted Air Force Research Laboratory experiments, among others, as well as providing a ride for small satellites.”

NPR has mentioned this tweet from Jonathan McDowell criticizing the smallsat portion of the mission:

Quote from: Jonathan McDowell

The statement that this @usairforce X-37 flight deployed small satellites is alarming, since the US has not reported those deployments in its UN Registration Convention submissions. This would be the first time that either the USA or Russia has blatantly flouted the Convention.

Source: https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1188513737571033089

I’m not convinced that this is actually the case, but nevertheless thought the allegation to be worth mentioning here.