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The X-37B is the United States' first unmanned vehicle to return from space and land on its own. Previously, the space shuttle was the only space vehicle capable of returning to Earth. The success of this inaugural mission demonstrates that unmanned space vehicles can be sent into orbit and safely recovered.
Photo credit: Boeing photo |
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Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., USA - December 3, 2010
Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced the successful de-orbit and landing of the
Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV), also known as the
X-37B, for the
U.S. Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO).
The X-37B landed at 1:16 a.m.
Pacific time today, concluding its more than
220-day experimental test mission.
It was launched from
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., on April 22.
The X-37B is the
United States' first unmanned vehicle to return from space and land on its own.
Previously, the space shuttle was the only space vehicle capable of returning to
Earth.
The success of this inaugural mission demonstrates that unmanned space vehicles can be sent into orbit and safely recovered.
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Boeing-built Orbital Test Vehicle X-37B Begins 1st Flight. The Boeing-built X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle is shown during fairing encapsulation at the Astrotech launch processing facility near Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The X-37B is an experimental vehicle that the U.S. Air Force may use for future space exploration missions.
Photo credit: Boeing photo |
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"We congratulate the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office and the 30th Space Wing at Vandenberg Air Force Base on the success of this mission," said
Paul Rusnock, Boeing vice president of Experimental Systems and program director for the X-37B.
"This marks a new era in space exploration, and we look forward to the launch of the second vehicle in 2011. By combining the best of aircraft and spacecraft into an affordable, responsive unmanned vehicle, Boeing has delivered an unprecedented capability to the RCO."
The X-37B program is demonstrating a reliable, reusable unmanned space test platform for the
Air Force.
Its objectives include space experimentation, risk reduction, and concept-of-operations development for reusable space vehicle technologies that could become key enablers for future space missions.
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The X-37B program is demonstrating a reliable, reusable unmanned space test platform for the Air Force. Its objectives include space experimentation, risk reduction, and concept-of-operations development for reusable space vehicle technologies that could become key enablers for future space missions.
Photo credit: Boeing photo |
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Boeing's commitment to this space-based unmanned vehicle spans a decade and includes support to the
Air Force Research Lab's X-40 program, NASA's X-37 program, and the
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's X-37 Approach & Landing Test Vehicle (ALTV) program.
Boeing program management, engineering, manufacturing, test and mission support functions for the
OTV program are conducted at
Boeing sites in Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, and El Segundo, Calif., USA.
A unit of
The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft.
Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a
$34 billion business with
68,000 employees worldwide.
Follow us on Twitter: @BoeingDefense.
Contact:
Diana Ball
Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems
Office: 562-797-4303
Mobile: 714-319-1014
diana.ball@boeing.com
http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=1541
ASTROMAN Magazine - 2010.04.24
Boeing-built Orbital Test Vehicle X-37B Begins 1st Flight
http://www.astroman.com.pl/index.php?mod=magazine&a=read&id=705