News Archive / Tagged: X-37B

• ULA successfully launches Atlas V, X-37B spaceplane

  Theresa CrossMay 17th, 2020

  At 9:14 AM EDT, United Launch Alliance successfully launched an Atlas V rocket, lofting the X-37B spaceplane into orbit for the U.S Space Force.

• ULA to launch the sixth flight of the X-37B

  Cullen DesforgesMay 15th, 2020

  United Launch Alliance will launch the USSF-7 mission early Saturday morning from Cape Canaveral for the United States Space Force.

• U.S. Air Force’s secretive X-37B shuttle returns under cover of night

  Cullen DesforgesOctober 28th, 2019

  MERRITT ISLAND, FL – After a record-breaking 780 days on orbit the United States Air Force’s secretive space plane, the X-37B, touched down on Runway 33 at the Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center on Oct. 27, 2019.

• If it’s Boeing (space) – it’s going to Florida

  Jason RhianJune 19th, 2019

  TITUSVILLE, Fla. -- After the end of the Shuttle Program it appeared space operations at the Cape might be on the downturn. Appearances can be deceiving however. Boeing, the largest aerospace company in the world - is moving some of its operations to the Sunshine State.

• U.S. Air Force’s X-37B space plane nears one year on orbit

  Curt GodwinAugust 20th, 2018

  CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The fifth, and latest, mission for the U.S. Air Force's (USAF) X-37B uncrewed space plane nears a milestone that all but one of its predecessors met (and exceeded): one year on orbit.

• SpaceX beats odds, Hurricane Irma to launch Falcon 9 with X-37B

  Derek RichardsonSeptember 7th, 2017

  KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. — With weather iffy at best and Hurricane Irma on the approach, SpaceX managed to launch its 13th Falcon 9 rocket this year. The flight sent the U.S. Air Force’s secretive robotic X-37B spaceplane into orbit.

• As Hurricane Irma looms, X-37B poised for first flight atop SpaceX Falcon 9

  Derek RichardsonSeptember 6th, 2017

  KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. — Continuing its breakneck launch pace, SpaceX is preparing to fly its 13th Falcon 9 rocket in the 2017 calendar year. The booster is scheduled to loft one of the U.S. Air Force's two reusable robotic X-37B spaceplanes.

• USAF to swap ULA Atlas V for SpaceX Falcon 9 as X-37B launcher

  Jason RhianJune 6th, 2017

  CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A report, written by Reuters' Irene Klotz and appearing on U.S. News, has stated that Space Exploration Technologies – more commonly known as SpaceX – has won the contract to launch the U.S. Air Force's X-37B. 

• Photo Gallery: X-37B lands at historic Shuttle Landing Facility

  Derek RichardsonMay 9th, 2017

  Heralding its arrival to Florida residents early Sunday morning with a sonic boom, the U.S. Air Force's secretive X-37B landed at Kennedy Space Center's historic Shuttle Landing Facility. Touchdown took place at about 7:47 a.m. EDT (11:47 GMT) May 7, 2017.

• 4th X-37B mission ends with first landing at Kennedy Space Center

  Derek RichardsonMay 7th, 2017

  KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. — After nearly 21 months in orbit, the U.S. Air Force’s fourth X-37B mission concluded and returned to Earth for an automated landing at Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility – the first time that the secretive spaceplane has touched down on the historic runway.

• USAF’s secretive X-37B spacecraft’s AFSPC-5 mission passes one year mark

  Collin SkocikMay 25th, 2016

  CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The U.S. Air Force’s secretive X-37B spaceplane has launched four times since its first flight in 2010; it has only landed three times. The current mission, OTV-4, has been in space for more than a year, having been launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on May 20, 2015. Little is known as to what the vehicle is doing in orbit.

• Modified XR‑5 Hall thruster operates successfully on orbit

  Jason RhianJuly 2nd, 2015

  The improved XR‑5 Hall Thruster (designated the XR‑5A) has passed initial orbital validation testing on the United States Air Force’s X-37B spacecraft on the AFSPC-5 mission. The Orbital Test Vehicle mission 4 (OTV-4) is still on orbit, with the XR‑5A Hall Thruster experiment being carried out as part of a collaborative effort with the Air Force Research Laboratory, Space […]

• AFSPC-5: Setting sail on wings of light

  Jason RhianMay 20th, 2015

  CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — With dire weather predictions as well as terror threats looming over Space Launch Complex 41 (SLC-41), the United States Air Force and United Launch Alliance unleashed the 501 version of the venerable Atlas V booster at 11:05 a.m. EDT (15:05 GMT) – the very opening of the first of two 10-minute long launch […]

• SFI LIVE: Coverage of the launch of X-37B on ULA Atlas V with AFSPC-5 mission

  Jason RhianMay 20th, 2015

  CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla — The U.S. Air Force and United Launch Alliance are planning on sending an Atlas V 501 rocket with the AFSPC-5 X-37B spacecraft at 10:45 a.m. EDT (14:45 GMT). The launch site will be Cape Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 41 in Florida. This stubby mini shuttle will have company on its fourth flight […]

• Secretive X-37B spaceplane set for May 20 launch on ULA Atlas V 501

  Jason RhianMay 19th, 2015

  CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla — On Wednesday, May 20, United Launch Alliance (ULA ) and the United States Air Force are planning to launch the 501 configuration of one of the Colorado-based firm’s Atlas V boosters. The payload for this flight is the U.S. Air Force’s X-37B mini shuttle. This mission will not only see the fourth flight […]