When the so called Orbital Test Vehicle, X-37B, OTV, was launched last April, it was so secret nobody would say exactly what it was doing, what it was carrying into earth orbit, or even when it would land. But, land it did – safe and sound – marking another scientific/engineering milestone for our local Boeing teams.
While in space, the OTV operates like a satellite. But, this machine can return from space and land on a runway like a plane. Similar to the space shuttles, the OTV gets into space aboard a non-reusable rocket, and then at the end of its mission, it returns to earth to land. But, unlike the space shuttles, the new craft is unmanned, so it lands on auto pilot. Also different from the shuttles, which can stay up for two weeks or so, the OTV can stay in orbit up to 270 days.
That’s what it did, staying in space for 220 days, the X-37B landed at 1:16 a.m. Pacific time Friday.
Boeing said in a statement “The X-37B is the United States’ first unmanned vehicle to return from space and land on its own. Previously, the space shuttle was the only space vehicle capable of returning to Earth. The success of this inaugural mission demonstrates that unmanned space vehicles can be sent into orbit and safely recovered.”
“This marks a new era in space exploration, and we look forward to the launch of the second vehicle in 2011,” said Paul Rusnock, Boeing vice president of Experimental Systems and program director for the X-37B. “By combining the best of aircraft and spacecraft into an affordable, responsive unmanned vehicle, Boeing has delivered an unprecedented capability to the U.S. Air Force.”
Boeing program management, engineering, manufacturing, test and mission support functions for the OTV program are conducted at Boeing sites in Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, and El Segundo, Calif.
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About Dolores Barr, Publisher
Dolores Barr has lived in Rossmoor since 1992 and has created this site to provide local news for the people of Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, Rossmoor, Leisure World, Sunset Beach, and Surfside, California. My husband and I have had two students graduate from the Los Alamitos Unified School District and currently our Grandson, Ricky Apodaca, grade 3 at Weaver Elementary, is actively involved in youth baseball through LAYB and youth football through FNL.
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