Second Boeing-built Orbital Test Vehicle X-37B launched into space »

By Jean-Michel Guhl
08 March 2011

The NASA/USAF second Boeing X-37 orbital test vehicle pictured during the encapsulation phase before being placed on top of an Atlas V rocket. © USAF via Boeing

Cape Canaveral, Florida, 5 March 2011 — Boeing today announced the successful launch of the second Boeing-built X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) for the U.S. Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO). The OTV was launched on an Atlas V rocket into a low-Earth orbit today at 5:46 p.m. Eastern time from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 41.

23 years after the Soviet Buran shuttle fully automatic successful mission, in 1988, let's recall here that in December 2010 the X-37B became the United States' first unmanned vehicle to return from space and land on its own. "The success of that mission validated this reusable and effective way to test new technologies in space and return them for examination" said Craig Cooning, vice president and general manager of Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems. 

The first OTV was launched in April 2010 and orbited for approximately eight months. In December, it successfully de-orbited and landed at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., where it continues to undergo post-flight evaluation.

The X-37B design combines the best of aircraft and spacecraft design into an affordable, unmanned space-based test platform which looks exactly like a small size Shuttle. Programme objectives include space experimentation, risk reduction, and concept-of-operations development for reusable space vehicle technologies at a time where the big Shuttle is performing its ultimate sortie in space.

Boeing's commitment to this space-based unmanned vehicle now spans a decade and includes support to the Air Force Research Lab's X-40 programme, NASA's X-37 programme, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's X-37 Approach, Landing and Test Vehicle programme.

The NASA/USAF Boeing X-37 orbital test vehicle resembles a diminutive Space Shuttle. Two OTVs have been built and launched into space. © NASA		Exploded view of the Boeing X-37 orbital test vehicle which is a totally automatic space craft launched on top of an Atlas V rocket. © NASA

Source: Boeing

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