OTV-7 explained

USSF-52
Mission Type:Classified
Operator:U.S. Space Force
Mission Duration:
(in progress)
Spacecraft Type:Boeing X-37B
Manufacturer:Boeing
Launch Mass:6350kg (14,000lb)[1]
Power:Deployable solar array, batteries
Launch Date:, 01:07 UTC[2]
Launch Rocket:Falcon Heavy (B1064.5 (sides) B1084 (core), B1065.5 (sides))
Launch Site:LC-39A
Launch Contractor:SpaceX
Landing Date:2027 (planned)
Orbit Reference:Highly elliptical high Earth orbit
Orbit Inclination:59.1°
Apsis:gee
Programme:OTV program
Previous Mission:OTV-6
Next Mission:OTV-8

Orbital Test Vehicle 7 (OTV-7), also referred to as United States Space Force-52 (USSF-52) or USA-349,[3] [4] is the fourth flight of the second Boeing X-37B, an American unmanned vertical-takeoff, horizontal-landing spaceplane. It was launched to a highly elliptical high Earth orbit aboard a Falcon Heavy rocket (for the first time) from LC-39A on 28 December 2023.[5]

The spaceplane is operated by the Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office and United States Space Force, which considers the mission classified and as such has not revealed the objectives. The spaceplane will be sent to orbit with a wide range of test and experimentation objectives. These tests include operating in new orbital regimes, experimenting with space domain awareness technologies and investigating the radiation effects to materials provided by NASA.[6] [7] [8]

Background and mission

OTV-7 is the fourth mission for the second X-37B built, and the seventh X-37B mission overall. It was flown on a Falcon Heavy in the expendable center core-recoverable side cores configuration, and launched from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A. It is the second classified flight of Falcon Heavy, awarded in June 2018.[9] [10] [11] [12] It is valued at US$130 million,[13] increased to $149.2 million in August 2021, due to "a change in the contract requirements" and expected to be completed by 14 April 2022.[14] Draft solicitation said the launch was to GTO.[15] A month before launch, the Air Force announced that the mission will fly an X-37B spaceplane.[6]

OTV-7 was deployed into a Highly elliptical HEO orbit of x x 59.1° orbit.[6] [16]

Payloads and experiments

Onboard experiments include NASA's Seeds-2 experiment investigating the effects of space-based radiation on plant seeds during a long-duration spaceflight.[6]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: X-37B OTV 1, 2, 3 . Gunter's Space Page . Gunter D. . Krebs . 10 July 2013.
  2. Web site: Davenport . Justin . Falcon Heavy launches USSF-52 spaceplane . 29 December 2023 . 29 December 2023 . NASASpaceFlight.
  3. News: Erwin. Sandra. U.S. Air Force X-37B spaceplane to launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. SpaceNews. 8 November 2023. 11 November 2023.
  4. Web site: Clark . Stephen . In a surprise move, the military's spaceplane will launch on Falcon Heavy . Ars Technica . 11 November 2023 . 8 November 2023.
  5. Web site: UPDATE: SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch on hold for USSF-52 mission . December 10, 2023 . satnews.com . . December 10, 2023.
  6. News: U.S. Air Force X-37B spaceplane to launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. 8 November 2023. 8 November 2023.
  7. Web site: 2023-11-29 . United States Space Force Prepares X-37B for Launch . 2023-11-30 . United States Space Force . en-US.
  8. Web site: 2023-11-08 . Department of the Air Force scheduled to launch seventh X-37B mission . 2023-11-30 . United States Space Force . en-US .
  9. Web site: SpaceX will launch the Space Force's mysterious X-37B space plane on a Falcon Heavy rocket Dec. 7. Brett Tingley. 9 November 2023. Space.com.
  10. Web site: Falcon Heavy USSF-52 . 7 September 2022 . nextspaceflight.com . en.
  11. Web site: Air Force Awards AFSPC-52 Launch Services Contract to SpaceX. Air Force Space Command. June 21, 2018. September 9, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20180628050728/https://www.afspc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1559450/air-force-awards-afspc-52-launch-services-contract-to-spacex/. June 28, 2018. live.
  12. Web site: 2021-08-20 . Contracts For Aug. 20, 2021 . 2022-07-20 . defense.gov . Space Exploration Technologies Corp., Hawthorne, California, has been awarded a $19,226,072 bilateral modification (P00009) to previously awarded Space Force 52 contract FA8811-18-C-0003... ...the total cumulative face value of the contract is $149,226,072. . 20 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220720205557/https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/2741226/ . live .
  13. News: SpaceX wins $130 million military launch contract for Falcon Heavy. SpaceNews. Sandra. Erwin. 21 June 2018. 12 September 2018.
  14. Web site: Contracts For Aug. 20, 2021. 20 August 2021. U.S. Department of Defense. 21 August 2021.
  15. News: U.S. Air Force certifies Falcon Heavy rocket, awards launch contract . SpaceNews. Stephen. Clark. 26 June 2018. 28 April 2020.
  16. Web site: McDowell . Jonathan . Congrats to Tomi Simola for locating the secret X-37B spaceplane. OTV 7 is in a 323 x 38838 km x 59.1 deg orbit. Could be testing out a new HEO IR sensor for future early warning satellites - just a wild speculation on my part here. . X (Formerly Twitter).

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