SpaceX Launches Secret Air Force Spaceplane

[Khal]

LiveLeak.com - SpaceX Launches Secret Air Force Spaceplane

This morning, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying an X-37B spaceplane on a classified mission for the U.S. Air Force.

This is very amazing technology. I can't believe we can launch a payload into space and have the rocket return and land in less than 10 minutes. This would be cool to see in person.

[HardDrive]

Incredible.

[M.D. Holloway]

truly

[masraum]

That's the stuff of Science Fiction, but a big part of that is the vertical landing like in the old 60s sci-fi movies.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Here is what I'd like to see:
One morning, that thing lands right on Kim Jong Un's front doorstep.
Kim Jong stands there, dumbfounded, looking up at the rocket.
The top hatch opens.
Out pops bugs bunny, who would give Kim a big kiss on the lips.
Kim would jump in the air with steam coming out his ears and say....
"oooooooooooooooooohhhhh I hate datttttt rabbittttttt"

That's when the ACME bomb inside the rocket goes off.. The WB stage curtain drops, looney tunes plays, and Bugs says....
"That's all folks!!!"

[Khal]

As Hurricane Irma Approaches, SpaceX Poised to Launch Air Force's X-37B Space Plane


Now I'm guessing they are getting that rocket packed up and put in storage for that massive storm is incoming.

[kach22i]

Cool video.

Wish they did a close up of the landing a bit earlier.

[Khal]

It looks like the rear fins of the X-37B retract inward so it can fit inside that nose of the rocket. But I'm looking at the side wings and they don't look like they fold up so I'm wondering how that fits in the nose of the rocket?

The X-37B is like a mini shuttle that has a small cargo area so it either launches secret satellites or he retrieves them. Nobody really knows but this thing will probably be in space for years again. What does the pelican military braintrust think of the X-37B?

Also why are there 3 or 4 people in the exact same space suits they have in the movie The Arrival? WTF are they dealing with?

[Jim Richards]

government surplus

[kach22i]

SpaceX Rocket Launches X-37B Space Plane on Secret Mission, Aces Landing
By Mike Wall, Space.com Senior Writer | September 7, 2017 10:49am ET
https://www.space.com/38067-spacex-launches-x-37b-space-plane.html

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the robotic X-37B lifted off today (Sept. 7) at 10 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT) from historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida............................

About 2.5 minutes into the flight, the Falcon 9's two stages separated. While the second stage continued hauling the X-37B to orbit, the first stage maneuvered its way back to Earth, eventually pulling off a vertical touchdown at Landing Zone 1, a SpaceX facility at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, which is next door to KSC. .....................

The company has now aced 16 such booster landings during orbital liftoffs —*seven at Landing Zone 1 and nine on robotic "drone ships" at sea — including a string of 12 in a row. (This streak does not take into account the explosion of a Falcon 9 during a pre-launch test on Sept. 1, 2016; the last failed landing attempt came in June 2016.) These touchdowns are part of SpaceX's effort to develop rapidly reusable spaceflight systems, which company founder and CEO Elon Musk has said could slash the cost of space exploration and utilization.

But the landing was a secondary objective. The main goal today was getting the reusable X-37B —*also known as the Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) —*into orbit.

Several videos in link above.

[dad911]

Damn, driving up the coast yesterday we looked for launches and saw the schedule for later date.

We would have stopped to watch.

[Scott R]

Originally Posted by Khal

It looks like the rear fins of the X-37B retract inward so it can fit inside that nose of the rocket. But I'm looking at the side wings and they don't look like they fold up so I'm wondering how that fits in the nose of the rocket?

The X-37B is like a mini shuttle that has a small cargo area so it either launches secret satellites or he retrieves them. Nobody really knows but this thing will probably be in space for years again. What does the pelican military braintrust think of the X-37B?

Also why are there 3 or 4 people in the exact same space suits they have in the movie The Arrival? WTF are they dealing with?

It fits in its payload faring wings out- the wings do not retract. It's not easy to judge the scale in most of the pictures.

[JD159]

https://youtu.be/8P8UKBAOfGo

Really showcases his passion.

Sorry for the lack of embed, can't find the embed link on mobile.

[island911]

here ya go (embedded)

[crustychief]

Awesome!!!!

[bmcuscgr94]

They've been launching a few from the West Cost at VAFB. I follow the launch process online then go out side to see the launch itself. Granddaughter was visiting when one launched and she was amazed that what she saw online was then actually in the sky. Did have a bit of trouble convincing her the two were the same rocket.

[wdfifteen]

That video is AWESOME! Just amazing.

[strupgolf]

It shows that a somebody can do something great. This guy is just like Edison, Goodyear, Ford. I have all my backing behind this keen mind as he sees the future. And he probably does it at 1/10 the cost o NASA. Go man, go.

[motion]

Originally Posted by Khal

LiveLeak.com - SpaceX Launches Secret Air Force Spaceplane

This morning, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying an X-37B spaceplane on a classified mission for the U.S. Air Force.

This is very amazing technology. I can't believe we can launch a payload into space and have the rocket return and land in less than 10 minutes. This would be cool to see in person.

Amazing video, thanks. I'm always amazed at just how thin our atmosphere is. When you cruise along in an airplane at 35,000 feet, you're already 10-15% of the way into space.

Musk is our Da Vinci. Can't wait to see what else he comes up with.

[wdfifteen]

Watching the telemetry on the video raised a question. One parameter shown was speed. Speed relative to what? Air speed doesn't make sense at 100km, where there basically isn't any air. Ground speed doesn't make sense early in the flight when the vehicle is moving normal to the ground, not parallel to it. What are they measuring to come up with speed is it simply the rate change in distance from the launch?