By 
May 10th, 2016
The first X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle waits in the encapsulation cell of the Evolved Expendable Launch vehicle on April 5, 2010 at the Astrotech facility in Titusville, Fla. Half of the Atlas V five-meter fairing is visible in the background.
Credit: U.S. Air Force
X-37B update:
Satellite watchers have indicated that the now-orbiting X-37B (OTV-4) recently made a significant orbit boost. In early May, ground observers started noticing the OTV-4 was not showing up as predicted. It was found on May 6 by José Luis Ruiz Gómez running around 44 minutes late. The OTV-4 orbit had been boosted by around 22 miles (36 kilometers). Such a maneuver may well indicate the craft is due to stay in Earth orbit or might suggest a burn off unneeded fuel and weight for a reentry. Special thanks to Thomas Dorman for this information. Satellite analyst Ted Molczan adds that the vehicle was also briefly at about its present altitude late last fall. OTV-3 was at a similar altitude twice during its flight, he points out.
The secretive mission of the United States Air Force’s X-37B space plane is nearing one year in Earth orbit.
Sent spaceward on the program’s fourth flight on May 20, 2015, the winged space plane’s on-orbit duties remain a tight-lipped affair. It was orbited by a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, kicking off a mission dubbed OTV-4 (short for Orbital Test Vehicle-4).
In a response to a Space.com inquiry: “I can confirm the 4th OTV mission is approaching one year on-orbit,” responded Air Force Capt. Annmarie Annicelli at the Pentagon’s Air Force press desk.
Beyond that…nothing further to add, Annicelli said.
Recovery crew members process the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle at Vandenberg Air Force Base after the program’s third mission complete.
Credit: Boeing
For additional info on this baffling project, go to my new Space.com story today:
Mystery Mission: Air Force’s X-37B Space Plane Nears 1 Year in Orbit
May 10, 2016 08:00am ET
http://www.space.com/32839-x37b-military-space-plane-one-year-mission-otv4.html
Posted in Space News
