Cosmic Penguin
Geek Penguin in GTO
(this report is classified until it is completed 
:rofl
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The mysterious spaceplane of America strikes again!
Since the very first flight 5 years ago, the Boeing X-37B has been the only real spacecraft with wings that is flying in orbit with the retirement of the Space Shuttle - and its usage has always been the subject of radical conjecture. With 3 test flights under the 2 vehicles' belts that lasts more than ALL Space Shuttle flights combined (1368 days vs 1334 for the Shuttle), the USAF is now finally transitioning the X-37 towards an operational role. Hence the launch of this 4th flight has got a mission number under the Air Force Space Command.
While we still don't know what its main tasks will be, we do get information for some of the unclassified payloads on the mini-Shuttle for the first time. An advanced Hall ion thruster will be tested on board for evaluation due for future usage on the USAF Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) military communications satellites. There's even a NASA materials exposure experiment on board based on similar ones deployed on the outside of the ISS!
Who knows what this mini-spaceplane is sneaking into?
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Launch coverage: (starts 10:45 am EDT / 14:45 UTC)
Payload:
Launch Vehicle:
The Atlas 5 was developed by Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services as part of the US Air Force Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program. Each Atlas 5 rocket uses a Russian-built RD-180 engine burning kerosene and liquid oxygen to power its first stage and an American-built RL10 engine burning liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to power its Centaur upper stage.
The Atlas 5 launcher will fly in the so-called 501 configuration, denoting a 5-meter payload fairing, no strap-on solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage.
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Launch Timeline & Ground Track:
Weather forecast for Titusville, Florida on May 20, 2015 (11 a.m.)
Sunny skies this morning. Scattered showers and thunderstorms developing during the afternoon. High 32C. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 km/h. Chance of rain 50%.
Time|Temps|Dew Point|Relative Humidity|Precip|Snow|Cloud cover|Pressure|Wind|Weather
11 AM|29°C|22°C|64%|1%|0%|5%|1016 hPa|10 km/h WSW|
Clear
Links:
:rofl---------------------------------------------------
The mysterious spaceplane of America strikes again!
Since the very first flight 5 years ago, the Boeing X-37B has been the only real spacecraft with wings that is flying in orbit with the retirement of the Space Shuttle - and its usage has always been the subject of radical conjecture. With 3 test flights under the 2 vehicles' belts that lasts more than ALL Space Shuttle flights combined (1368 days vs 1334 for the Shuttle), the USAF is now finally transitioning the X-37 towards an operational role. Hence the launch of this 4th flight has got a mission number under the Air Force Space Command.
While we still don't know what its main tasks will be, we do get information for some of the unclassified payloads on the mini-Shuttle for the first time. An advanced Hall ion thruster will be tested on board for evaluation due for future usage on the USAF Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) military communications satellites. There's even a NASA materials exposure experiment on board based on similar ones deployed on the outside of the ISS!
Who knows what this mini-spaceplane is sneaking into?
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Launch date:
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May 20, 2015
Window open:
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15:05 UTC / 11:05 a.m. EDT
Window close:
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16:52 UTC / 12:52 p.m. EDT
Launch site:
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SLC-41, CCAFS, Florida
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[highlight]L[eventtimer]2015-05-20 15:05:00;%c%%ddd%/%hh%:%mm%:%ss%[/eventtimer][/highlight]
Mission Insignia
Launch coverage: (starts 10:45 am EDT / 14:45 UTC)
- ULA webcast: http://www.ulalaunch.com/webcast.aspx
- ULA webcast 2: http://cmc-i.akamaihd.net/hls/live/201845/launch/index-launch.m3u8
- Spaceflight Now: http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/05/19/av054journal/
Payload:
The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle, or OTV, is an experimental test program to demonstrate technologies for a reliable, reusable, unmanned space test platform for the U.S. Air Force. The primary objectives of the X-37B are twofold: reusable spacecraft technologies for America’s future in space and operating experiments which can be returned to, and examined, on Earth.
The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle is the newest and most advanced re-entry spacecraft. Based on NASA’s X-37 design, the unmanned OTV is designed for vertical launch to low Earth orbit altitudes where it can perform long duration space technology experimentation and testing. Upon command from the ground, the OTV autonomously re-enters the atmosphere, descends and lands horizontally on a runway. The X-37B is the first vehicle since NASA’s shuttle orbiter with the ability to return experiments to Earth for further inspection and analysis, however the X-37B can stay in space for much longer.
Technologies being tested in the program include advanced guidance, navigation and control, thermal protection systems, avionics, high temperature structures and seals, conformal reusable insulation, lightweight electromechanical flight systems, and autonomous orbital flight, reentry and landing.
The Atlas V vehicle will also launch an Aft Bulkhead Carrier (ABC) containing eight P-Pods that will release 10 CubeSats. Following primary spacecraft separation the Centaur will change altitude and inclination in order to release the CubeSat spacecraft which are sponsored by the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA). The ten CubeSats were developed by the U.S. Naval Academy, the Aerospace Corporation, the Air Force Research Laboratory, California Polytechnic State University, and the Planetary Society.
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Operator:|
Contractors:|
Dimensions:|
Propulsion:|
Power:|
Payload Bay Size:|
Launch Weight:|
Orbit:|
The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle is the newest and most advanced re-entry spacecraft. Based on NASA’s X-37 design, the unmanned OTV is designed for vertical launch to low Earth orbit altitudes where it can perform long duration space technology experimentation and testing. Upon command from the ground, the OTV autonomously re-enters the atmosphere, descends and lands horizontally on a runway. The X-37B is the first vehicle since NASA’s shuttle orbiter with the ability to return experiments to Earth for further inspection and analysis, however the X-37B can stay in space for much longer.
Technologies being tested in the program include advanced guidance, navigation and control, thermal protection systems, avionics, high temperature structures and seals, conformal reusable insulation, lightweight electromechanical flight systems, and autonomous orbital flight, reentry and landing.
The Atlas V vehicle will also launch an Aft Bulkhead Carrier (ABC) containing eight P-Pods that will release 10 CubeSats. Following primary spacecraft separation the Centaur will change altitude and inclination in order to release the CubeSat spacecraft which are sponsored by the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA). The ten CubeSats were developed by the U.S. Naval Academy, the Aerospace Corporation, the Air Force Research Laboratory, California Polytechnic State University, and the Planetary Society.
Specifications
Type / Application:
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- Orbital Space Plane
Operator:|
- US Air Force
Contractors:|
- Boeing
Dimensions:|
- 8.9 m L x 4.5 m W x 2.9 m H
Propulsion:|
- 1 × Aerojet AR2-3 hydrazine rocket engine, 29.3 kN thrust
Power:|
- 1 deployable solar array
- batteries
Payload Bay Size:|
- 2.1 m × 1.2 m
Launch Weight:|
- ~5000 kg
Orbit:|
- Low Earth Orbit
Launch Vehicle:
The Atlas 5 was developed by Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services as part of the US Air Force Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program. Each Atlas 5 rocket uses a Russian-built RD-180 engine burning kerosene and liquid oxygen to power its first stage and an American-built RL10 engine burning liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to power its Centaur upper stage.
The Atlas 5 launcher will fly in the so-called 501 configuration, denoting a 5-meter payload fairing, no strap-on solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage.
Specifications
Gross mass:
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- 337200 kg (742700 lb)
Payload:
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- 7940 kg (17510 lb) LEO
- 3780 kg (8320 lb) GTO
Height:
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- 58.30 m (191.20 ft)
Diameter:
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- 3.81 m (12.49 ft)
Span:
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- 3.81 m (12.49 ft)
Thrust:
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- 3827.00 kN (860343 lbf)
Launch Timeline & Ground Track:
Weather forecast for Titusville, Florida on May 20, 2015 (11 a.m.)
Sunny skies this morning. Scattered showers and thunderstorms developing during the afternoon. High 32C. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 km/h. Chance of rain 50%.
11 AM|29°C|22°C|64%|1%|0%|5%|1016 hPa|10 km/h WSW|
Links:
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