USA-299, also referred to as USSF-7 and Orbital Test Vehicle 6 (OTV-6), is the third flight of the first Boeing X-37B, an American unmanned vertical-takeoff, horizontal-landing spaceplane. It was launched to low Earth orbit aboard an Atlas V launch vehicle from SLC-41 on 17 May 2020. Its mission designation is part of the USA series.
 X-37B that conducted OTV-6 shortly after it landed on 12 November 2022 | |
| Names | Orbital Test Vehicle 6 OTV-6 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | U.S. Space Force classified satellite |
| Operator | United States Space Force |
| COSPAR ID | 2020-029A |
| SATCAT no. | 45606 |
| Mission duration | 908 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | Boeing X-37B |
| Manufacturer | Boeing |
| Launch mass | 5,400 kg (11,900 lb)[1] |
| Power | Deployable solar array, batteries |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 17 May 2020, 13:14:00 UTC |
| Rocket | Atlas V 501 (AV-081) |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral, SLC-41 |
| Contractor | United Launch Alliance |
| End of mission | |
| Landing date | 12 November 2022, 10:22 UTC |
| Landing site | Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 33 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Low Earth orbit |
| Perigee altitude | 388 km (241 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 404 km (251 mi) |
| Inclination | 44.60° |
OTV program | |
The spaceplane is operated by the Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office[2] and United States Space Force, which considers the mission classified and as such has not revealed the objectives. However an unclassified secondary satellite, FalconSat-8, was deployed from the X-37B soon after launch.[3]
Mission
editOTV-6 is the third mission for the first X-37B built, and the sixth X-37B mission overall. It flew on an Atlas V in the 501 configuration, and launched from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 41.[4] This flight is the first time the space plane has been equipped with a service module to carry additional pieces for experiments.
OTV-6 was deployed into an orbit with an inclination of approximately 44.60°.[5]
OTV-6 landed after a record-breaking 908 days at the Shuttle Landing Facility on November 12, 2022.[6]
FalconSat-8
editA rideshare payload for the United States Air Force Academy, FalconSat-8, was deployed from the X-37B a few days into the mission. The satellite provides a platform for the academy's Cadet Space Operations Squadron to test various technologies.
Onboard experiments include:
- MEP (Magnetic gradient Electrostatic Plasma thruster), a novel electromagnetic propulsion system
- MMA (Metamaterial antenna), a low power, high performance antenna
- CANOE (CArbon NanOtubes Experiment)
- ACES (Attitude Control and Energy Storage), a commercial reaction wheel modified into a flywheel
- SkyPad, off-the-shelf cameras and GPUs integrated into a low power package
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "X-37B OTV 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6". Gunter's Space Page. 14 January 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- ^ "Department of the Air Force scheduled to launch seventh X-37B mission". United States Space Force. 8 November 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "FalconSat 8". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
- ^ Graham, William (16 May 2020). "ULA Atlas V launches sixth mission for X-37B spaceplane". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
- ^ "OTV-6 Launch". zarya.info. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
- ^ Wall, Mike (12 November 2022). "US military's X-37B space plane lands, ending record-breaking mystery mission". space.com. Retrieved 12 November 2022.