X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV)

[Byeman]

Byeman you think its impossible to put a X-37 like spacecraft on a reusable first stage, instead of an expendable launcher?

No, I didn't say it was impossible, it can be done, if you want to only launch into the ocean and not orbit.
Again, X-37 is spacecraft and not part launch vehicle and it only has delta V for orbit changes.
X-37 is not equivilent to the space shuttle orbiter. It does not have engines for ascent into orbit.

 

[XP67_Moonbat]

Silly question here. But in the landing video, you can hear a spooling down noise in the background. Now was that from a chase plane or from X-37? Just curious.

 

[flateric]

from X-37

 

[XP67_Moonbat]

Ah. Like an APU or something, maybe?

 

[Stargazer]

Earlier this year, Boeing engineers hinted that a manned version of the X-37B space plane, resembling the X-38 Crew Return Vehicle originally designed by Scaled Composites, might be in the works.

Source: http://www.flyingmag.com/news/video-secret-space-plane-lands-vandenberg

 

[Matej]

I would not say X-37C is resembling X-38. First is kind of winged rocket while second is a lifting body. I am looking forward to the information that is eventually found some real customer.

 

[Byeman]

I would not say X-37C is resembling X-38. First is kind of winged rocket while second is a lifting body. I am looking forward to the information that is eventually found some real customer.

It won't. Boeing isn't going to compete with itself

 

[Stargazer]

I would not say X-37C is resembling X-38. First is kind of winged rocket while second is a lifting body. I am looking forward to the information that is eventually found some real customer.

It won't. Boeing isn't going to compete with itself

Though I'm really no specialist, I gather that when it comes to spacecraft, there is only a number of generic shapes that can be successful, and all were defined at NASA and in the Soviet Union some 40 years ago. So if Boeing chooses to use the X-38 shape, they are in fact reusing something that is pretty close to the Soviet BOR- designs, and not so different from various HL-10 derivatives studied in the 1960s and 1970s.

 

[godman]

Is there a possibility that the X-37 could in a sense, carry the Falcon in its payload bay? Releasing the Falcon, which in a sense releases a missile?

 

[quellish]

Is there a possibility that the X-37 could in a sense, carry the Falcon in its payload bay? Releasing the Falcon, which in a sense releases a missile?

At several points there were renderings of the earlier SMV with reentry vehicles mounted externally. I'm not sure what the point of it would be with the X-37. If you're releasing a missile, why do it from a reusable bus?

 

[DSE]

Is there a possibility that the X-37 could in a sense, carry the Falcon in its payload bay? Releasing the Falcon, which in a sense releases a missile?

At several points there were renderings of the earlier SMV with reentry vehicles mounted externally. I'm not sure what the point of it would be with the X-37. If you're releasing a missile, why do it from a reusable bus?

Also an Atlas 5 launch is quite a bit more pricey than the Minotaur, no? One then also has to deal with the even higher Mach # aero database for the HTV-2, and one of the issues all ready still needing dealing with is the aero and heat transfer predictions over the nominal HTV-2 trajectory.

 

[Empire]

 

[Empire]

 

[XP67_Moonbat]

Old news, bud.

http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,5232.330.html

 

[bobbymike]

Spaceplane Mission Gets Green Light: United Launch Alliance has cleared the next launch of an Air Force X-37B reusable spaceplane to occur this week at Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla., after concluding that it has sufficiently mitigated the chances of a booster anomaly repeating itself from a previous satellite launch. A ULA Atlas V rocket is now scheduled to carry the X-37 orbital test vehicle into space on Dec 11, states the company's Dec. 7 release. This mission, dubbed OTV-3, will be the third space flight of the two-vehicle X-37 fleet. Back in early October, a ULA Delta IV rocket experienced an upper-stage engine malfunction during a GPS IIF satellite launch. The Atlas V utilizes a different version of this same engine, but the Air Force and ULA delayed the X-37 launch until they understood better what happened. ULA's investigation of the Delta IV anomaly "concluded that a fuel leak occurred" and that the leak "started during the first engine start sequence," states the release. While the anomaly investigation continues, "all credible crossover implications" for the Atlas V "have been thoroughly addressed and mitigated," clearing the way for the OTV-3 launch, states the release

 

[Gerard]

There was a successful launch today, just after 6pm UK time.

Was live on-line.


Regards,
Gerard

 

[sferrin]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhAxiU5xL24&feature=g-subs-u

 

[Broncazonk]

What does it do again?

What are the leading theories as to it's mission? What does it do for so long up there?

Bronc

 

[godman]

Is there a possibility that a laser could be housed inside its payload bay to disable sats? I also think there is a possibility that this thing carriers sensors, when China tested an ASAT we rushed to get this so if they ever launched we could in a sense "move" from their weapons.
Just what I gathered over following this, might be right might be wrong not really sure.

http://www.darpa.mil/Our_Work/STO/Programs/High_Energy_Liquid_Laser_Area_Defense_System_(HELLADS).aspx

 

[XP67_Moonbat]

Well 20/20 just announced that NoKo just successfully launched a satellite. Kinda ironic that the -37B goes up earlier on the day. Things that make you go "hmm".

 

[flateric]

Things that make you go "hmm".

of course, you mean "successfully launched"?

 

[sferrin]

Well 20/20 just announced that NoKo just successfully launched a satellite. Kinda ironic that the -37B goes up earlier on the day. Things that make you go "hmm".

Recall that the last one came down just hours before that Chinese launch. Sounds fairly responsive to me. B)

 

[RanulfC]

Well 20/20 just announced that NoKo just successfully launched a satellite. Kinda ironic that the -37B goes up earlier on the day. Things that make you go "hmm".

Was the launch "on-schedule" despite the delay or was it late or what? That's always an important "clue" when looking at other event timing

IF it was "on-time" another possibiilty is the close pass of the asteroid "Toutatis" as they seem to have "named" it now:
http://thespacereporter.com/2012/12/massive-3-mile-wide-asteroid-misses-earth-by-cosmic-inches/

Which could be used for space tracking and optical sensor testing.

Randy

 

[TomS]

Given the huge difference in orbital inclination (97.4 degrees for whatever the DPRK launched, roughly 40 degrees for the OTV), it seems like a big stretch to suggest any connection.

 

[XP67_Moonbat]

Yeah, true that.

 

[Mat Parry]

http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/AW_12_03_2012_p03-519679.xml&p=2

"Observers suggest X-37B's have flown on typical imagery-intelligence profiles, and it is understood that they carry a payload that was identified after the initial decision to fund the test program. However, it is an indication of the RCO's influence that they have flown at all".
Taken at face value, A fascinating hint...

X-37 was transferred to DOD from NASA in 2004, so that's a possible baseline to guide thoughts regarding the mode of operation of the (presumably experimental demonstrator / proof of principle) payload.

One other observation also struck me,
"a recruitment notice for the RCO deputy director identifies only three mandatory areas of “significant experience . . . low-observables, counter low-observables and electronic warfare.”

I don't know a lot about counter low-observables (who does? :-X ) but aren't bi-static systems de-rigueur for this kind of thing?
http://www.spyflight.co.uk/sbr.htm

 

[Dragon029]

Given the huge difference in orbital inclination (97.4 degrees for whatever the DPRK launched, roughly 40 degrees for the OTV), it seems like a big stretch to suggest any connection.

I went and plugged in their orbit data into a satellite orbit simulator, and despite their inclination, they do come into close (~100km) proximity multiple times; they came about that close just hours after the DPRK satellite was launched (possibly before the satellite began to tumble).

One guy I spoke to thought up the idea that perhaps the X-37 could be performing ELINT on DPRK / satellite communications, and passing that data back down to allow the potential hacking of the satellite. Another suggested that perhaps it used a kinetic device against the satellite, although I doubt you could do anything at that inclination, without severely damaging the satellite.

 

[Stargazer]

55 pages is a little too much for me to browse through... therefore I do not know if the following leaflet has been posted here before or not.
If it has, I apologize for the repeat. If not, well... it's a worthy addition to the subject I think: A 1999 leaflet about Boeing's REFLY­­™ SMV.

 

[flateric]

oh, thank you!

 

[Byeman]

One guy I spoke to thought up the idea that perhaps the X-37 could be performing ELINT on DPRK / satellite communications, and passing that data back down to allow the potential hacking of the satellite.

Nonsense

 

[flateric]

NASA planned on testing the X-37 Advanced Technology Flight Demonstrator by releasing it in 2004 from a B-52

 

[Orionblamblam]

The X-37 is surprisingly similar in size to the X-20.

 

[cubit]

Not sure if these have been posted but they relate to atmospheric interaction within the flight envelope. I can't access the first historical document, however the second recent link is a quite comprehensive Masters thesis submission on the subject.

http://arc.aiaa.org/doi/abs/10.2514/6.1999-4608
www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA546418

 

[antigravite]

Not sure if these have been posted but they relate to atmospheric interaction within the flight envelope. I can't access the first historical document, however the second recent link is a quite comprehensive Masters thesis submission on the subject.

http://arc.aiaa.org/doi/abs/10.2514/6.1999-4608
www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA546418

You must be subscribed to access it, of course. Otherwise, you only get the (teasing) cover...

A.

 

[antigravite]

Found this novelty, largely available on the bay. Not my mug of tea, but that might also be interesting.

A.

 

[quellish]

Found this novelty, largely available on the bay. Not my mug of tea, but that might also be interesting.

A.

2nd Range Operations Sq.
4th Space Launch Sq
30th Civil Engineer Sq
30th Operations Support Sq
30th Space Wing, Office of Safety
30th Security Forces Sq.

(All 30th Space Wing organizations that call VAFB home)

 

[antigravite]

Found this novelty, largely available on the bay. Not my mug of tea, but that might also be interesting.

A.

2nd Range Operations Sq.
4th Space Launch Sq
30th Civil Engineer Sq
30th Operations Support Sq
30th Space Wing, Office of Safety
30th Security Forces Sq.

(All 30th Space Wing organizations that call VAFB home)

Thx for opening this up.


A.

 

[antigravite]

And for the sake of completeness, prior closing the topical emblem part of this thread, another 2cts: pictures of other related novelties: mission patches.

A.

 

[bobbymike]

http://defensetech.org/2014/04/01/air-forces-x-37b-breaks-orbit-record/

 

[XP67_Moonbat]

http://news.yahoo.com/secret-spaceplane-mystery-mission-094500663--politics.html