Message posted by Griffon_314 on December 03, 2010 at 3:42:14 PST:
30th Space Wing Public Affairs 12/3/2010 - VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The U.S. Air Force's first unmanned re-entry The X-37B, named Orbital Test Vehicle 1 (OTV-1), conducted on-orbit experiments for more than 220 The X-37B is the newest and most advanced re-entry spacecraft. Managed by the Air Force Rapid "Today's landing culminates a successful mission based on close teamwork between the 30th Space OTV-1's de-orbit and landing mark the transition from the on-orbit demonstration phase to a The Air Force is preparing to launch the next X-37B, OTV-2, in Spring 2011 aboard an Atlas V
spacecraft landed at Vandenberg Air Force Base at 1:16 a.m. today.
days during its maiden voyage. It fired its orbital maneuver engine in low-earth orbit to perform an
autonomous reentry before landing.
Capabilities Office (AFRCO), the X-37B program performs risk reduction, experimentation and concept
of operations development for reusable space vehicle technologies.
Wing, Boeing and the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office," said Lt Col Troy Giese, X-37B program
manager from the AFRCO. "We are very pleased that the program completed all the on-orbit objectives
for the first mission."
refurbishment phase for the program.
booster.
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