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 |
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.
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]
OTV-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]
A 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:
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 |
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.
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]
OTV-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]
A 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: