Tag Archives: space

X-37B Passes One Year in Orbit

The US Air Force’s secretive X-37B reusable unmanned space vehicle has surpassed a year in orbit.

The unmanned X-37B spacecraft — flying a mission known as Orbital Test Vehicle 3 (OTV-3) — launched into space atop an Atlas 5 rocket from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Dec. 11, 2012. What payloads the space plane is toting and the overall mission goals on its confidential cruise are classified.

The Space.com article notes that “skywatchers” have been constantly monitoring the X-37’s orbit and altitude changes. What it is actually doing remains a mystery.

ADVERTISEMENT

Mustache March has a Website

The fighter pilot tradition of Mustache March has a website.  Who knew?  Of course, it’s a charity awareness website that seems to be unaware of its use of the military tradition most often attributed to USAF fighter pilot Gen Robin Olds.

Of course, the fact it’s a fighter pilot tradition doesn’t stop others from joining in — even the space community, famously known as blue-zipper-suited, leather aviation jacket wearing silo sitters.

X-37B Still in Space

The Associated Press did a check-up on the experimental X-37B and decided it was still in space, nine months after it launched on its vaguely described (nine-month planned) sortie.

The X-37B orbital test vehicle was due to land in California this week, but the Air Force said Tuesday that the mission will be extended. A landing date has not been set.

The current flight (orbit?) is the second public mission of the vehicle system.  While some sites have noted the “experimental” mission may be in preparation for future missions, there’s nothing to say it isn’t doing now precisely what they want it to…

X-37B Returns to Vandenberg

The unmanned X-37B space vehicle (or “Orbital Test Vehicle 1”), originally launched in April, returned to Vandenberg AFB after a seven-month mission described in only the vaguest terms by the Air Force:

The X-37B is the newest and most advanced re-entry spacecraft. Managed by the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, the X-37B program performs risk reduction, experimentation and concept of operations development for reusable space vehicle technologies.

The vehicle and its mission remain a high point of speculation, particularly since its orbit — and its orbital changes — were widely visible.

The craft was reportedly “successful” in its test mission, and suffered only a few dents from space debris and a blown tire on its autonomous landing.