Updates X-37B atop of Atlas 5 on March 4th 2011

IronRain

The One and Only (AFAIK)
Administrator
Moderator
News Reporter
Donator
Joined
Oct 11, 2009
Messages
3,484
Reaction score
403
Points
123
Location
Utrecht
Website
www.spaceflightnewsapi.net
SpaceFlight Now: Air Force's second X-37 space plane nears launch

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Two months after a sister ship successfully concluded a demo flight, the U.S. military's second robotic X-37B space plane is in Florida preparing for blastoff March 4 on another secret mission, according to an Air Force official.


The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket is being readied for launch at Cape Canaveral's Complex 41. Both stages of the booster have been assembled inside a vertical integration building, and the rocket is scheduled to roll out to the pad later this week for a pre-launch practice countdown and tanking test. The wet dress rehearsal is on tap for Friday, according to an Air Force spokesperson.

encapsulation.jpg

(First X-37B being encapsulated for flight, similar to the second X-37B)
 
Last edited:

Zatnikitelman

Addon Developer
Addon Developer
Joined
Jan 13, 2008
Messages
2,302
Reaction score
6
Points
38
Location
Atlanta, GA, USA, North America
WOW! I hadn't expected a second launch this fast! Really makes you wonder what the Air Force is up to that needs a vehicle up there only two months after the first returned.
 

GoForPDI

Good ol' Max Peck
Joined
Dec 21, 2010
Messages
285
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Glasgow
The first one was up for almost a year, plenty of time to prepare another. One X-37 per year can do alot of spying ;)
 

N_Molson

Addon Developer
Addon Developer
Donator
Joined
Mar 5, 2010
Messages
9,271
Reaction score
3,244
Points
203
Location
Toulouse
Seems a successful lifting body program ! Let's hope there will be one day civilian applications of it... ;)
 

Messierhunter

New member
Joined
Apr 30, 2008
Messages
488
Reaction score
2
Points
0
It'll be interesting to see if this one gives off the same occasional bright flare that its sister ship showed while in orbit. If it was a flare off the solar panel or a radiator then it should still show the same behavior, but if it doesn't flare this time then it must have been payload-specific.
 

Carmen A

redneck kitten with pillow :3
Addon Developer
Joined
Jan 1, 2011
Messages
751
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Can I be in Texas?
Website
v149th.yolasite.com
Epic. The long lost ancestor to the XR5 :D

At least, you can think of it that way when comparing the USS Enterprise E to the Phoenix :D
 
Last edited:

tblaxland

O-F Administrator
Administrator
Addon Developer
Webmaster
Joined
Jan 1, 2008
Messages
7,320
Reaction score
25
Points
113
Location
Sydney, Australia
Spaceflightnow:

The odds of "no go" weather for Friday's X-37B spaceplane launch atop an Atlas 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral have increased to 70 percent because of cloud and high wind worries.
The latest outlook issued this morning called for scattered cumulus clouds at 3,000 feet, scattered high cirrus at 25,000 feet, isolated showers in the area, 7 miles of visibility, easterly winds of 22 gusting to 28 knots and a temperature of 70-71 degrees F.

The forecast for Saturday's backup launch opportunity is marginally better.

Officials are expected to announce the exact launch time later today. For now, they say liftoff will happen sometime after 3:39 p.m. EST.​
 

DaveS

Addon Developer
Addon Developer
Donator
Beta Tester
Joined
Feb 4, 2008
Messages
9,429
Reaction score
680
Points
203
The Atlas V with the X-37B OTV2 is now at the pad following the short trip from the Vertical Integration Facility to SLC-41. The rollout began at 1:50pm EST and was complete at 2:20pm EST.
 

N_Molson

Addon Developer
Addon Developer
Donator
Joined
Mar 5, 2010
Messages
9,271
Reaction score
3,244
Points
203
Location
Toulouse
Failure on the morning with Taurus XL, success on the evening with X-37B ? ;)

Tomorrow would be fine too, watching 2 launches a day is very cool but I'm not sure I could follow this rate of fire for very long ! :lol:
 

orb

O-F Administrator,
News Reporter
Joined
Oct 30, 2009
Messages
14,020
Reaction score
4
Points
0
Second X-37 space plane readied for launch

Spaceflight Now: X-37B READIED FOR FLIGHT:

01.jpg


02.jpg


03.jpg


04.jpg


05.jpg


Photo credit: U.S. Air Force
 

orb

O-F Administrator,
News Reporter
Joined
Oct 30, 2009
Messages
14,020
Reaction score
4
Points
0
Launch is planned in 1 hour - T-40 minutes and counting. There will be one more countdown hold at T-4 minutes.

Launch Coverage Simulcast:
NASASpacefligth: LIVE: Atlas V hoping to dodge weather for X-37B OTV-2 launch:
Weather permitting, the United Launch Alliance (ULA) will launch an Atlas V 501 carrying the X-37B OTV-2 spacecraft on its first flight on Friday. Liftoff is currently scheduled to occur at 20:50 UTC; the start of a launch window of an undisclosed duration of up to 109 minutes, although there is currently a 70 percent chance of unacceptable weather. However, managers have concluded there are no common components between the Atlas V and the failed Taurus XL’s components.
 

orb

O-F Administrator,
News Reporter
Joined
Oct 30, 2009
Messages
14,020
Reaction score
4
Points
0
NEW LAUNCH TIME. Liftoff being pushed back to 3:55 p.m. EST due to high ground winds at the pad.
 

N_Molson

Addon Developer
Addon Developer
Donator
Joined
Mar 5, 2010
Messages
9,271
Reaction score
3,244
Points
203
Location
Toulouse
The birds in front of the camera don't look very disturbed by the wind :p

---------- Post added at 08:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:44 PM ----------

Now there is a nice shower right over the pad...
 

orb

O-F Administrator,
News Reporter
Joined
Oct 30, 2009
Messages
14,020
Reaction score
4
Points
0
NEW LAUNCH TIME. 4:00 p.m. EST
 
Top