OTV-1 (X-37B) (USA 212)
Atlas V 501
United Launch Alliance
Mission
OTV-1 (X-37B) (USA 212)
- Type: Government/Top Secret
- Orbit: Low Earth Orbit
- Launch Cost: $120,000,000
It is the first flight of Boeing X-37B, a United States Air Force Orbital Test Vehicle, which is an unmanned 5000 kg, 8.8 m-long reusable mini-spaceplane capable of autonomous re-entry and landing. The OTV-1 mission was designed to test new technologies, however the specific identity of the spaceship’s payload was not revealed. OTV was the first vehicle since NASA’s shuttle orbiter capable of returning experiments to Earth for further inspection and analysis. The mission concluded after 224 days in orbit, marking the first American autonomous orbital runway landing.
Location
Space Launch Complex 41
Cape Canaveral, FL, USA
Space Launch Complex 41 has witnessed the launch of 111 rockets, including 111 orbital launch attempts, while Cape Canaveral, FL, USA, has been the site for 940 rocket launches.
Rocket
United Launch Alliance Atlas V 501
Atlas V with 5m Fairing, 0 SRB, 1 Centaur upper stage engine.
Agency
United Launch Alliance
United Launch Alliance (ULA) is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Space Systems and Boeing Defense, Space & Security. ULA was formed in December 2006 by combining the teams at these companies which provide spacecraft launch services to the government of the United States. ULA launches from both coasts of the US. They launch their Atlas V vehicle from LC-41 in Cape Canaveral and LC-3E at Vandeberg. Their Delta IV launches from LC-37 at Cape Canaveral and LC-6 at Vandenberg.
