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'''[[United States Space Force]]-52''' ('''USSF-52'''), also referred to as '''Orbital Test Vehicle 7''' ('''OTV-7'''),<ref name="auto">{{cite news|last1=Erwin|first1=Sandra|url=https://spacenews.com/u-s-air-force-x-37b-spaceplane-to-launch-on-a-spacex-falcon-heavy-rocket/|title=U.S. Air Force X-37B spaceplane to launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket|publisher=SpaceNews|date=8 November 2023|access-date=11 November 2023}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{cite web |last1=Clark |first1=Stephen |title=In a surprise move, the military's spaceplane will launch on Falcon Heavy |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/11/in-a-surprise-move-the-militarys-spaceplane-will-launch-on-falcon-heavy/ |publisher=Ars Technica |access-date=11 November 2023 |date=8 November 2023}}</ref> is the fourth flight of the second [[Boeing]] [[Boeing X-37|X-37B]], an American unmanned [[VTHL|vertical-takeoff, horizontal-landing]] [[spaceplane]]. It was launched to [[low Earth orbit]] aboard a [[Falcon Heavy]] rocket (for the first time) from [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A|LC-39A]] on 28 December 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.satnews.com/2023/12/10/update-spacex-falcon-heavy-launch-on-hold-for-ussf-52-mission/ |title=UPDATE: SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch on hold for USSF-52 mission |date=December 10, 2023 | website=satnews.com |author=<!--Not stated-->| access-date=December 10, 2023}}</ref>
'''[[United States Space Force]]-52''' ('''USSF-52'''), also referred to as '''Orbital Test Vehicle 7''' ('''OTV-7'''),<ref name="auto">{{cite news|last1=Erwin|first1=Sandra|url=https://spacenews.com/u-s-air-force-x-37b-spaceplane-to-launch-on-a-spacex-falcon-heavy-rocket/|title=U.S. Air Force X-37B spaceplane to launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket|publisher=SpaceNews|date=8 November 2023|access-date=11 November 2023}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{cite web |last1=Clark |first1=Stephen |title=In a surprise move, the military's spaceplane will launch on Falcon Heavy |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/11/in-a-surprise-move-the-militarys-spaceplane-will-launch-on-falcon-heavy/ |publisher=Ars Technica |access-date=11 November 2023 |date=8 November 2023}}</ref> is the fourth flight of the second [[Boeing]] [[Boeing X-37|X-37B]], an American unmanned [[VTHL|vertical-takeoff, horizontal-landing]] [[spaceplane]]. It was launched to [[low Earth orbit]] aboard a [[Falcon Heavy]] rocket (for the first time) from [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A|LC-39A]] on 28 December 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.satnews.com/2023/12/10/update-spacex-falcon-heavy-launch-on-hold-for-ussf-52-mission/ |title=UPDATE: SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch on hold for USSF-52 mission |date=December 10, 2023 | website=satnews.com |author=<!--Not stated-->| access-date=December 10, 2023}}</ref>


The spaceplane is operated by the [[Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office]] and [[United States Space Force]], which considers the mission [[Classified information|classified]] and as such has not revealed the objectives. The spaceplane will be sent to orbit with a wide range of test and experimentation objectives. These tests include operating in new orbital regimes, experimenting with space domain awareness technologies and investigating the radiation effects to NASA materials.<ref name="auto1">{{cite news|url=https://spacenews.com/u-s-air-force-x-37b-spaceplane-to-launch-on-a-spacex-falcon-heavy-rocket/|title=U.S. Air Force X-37B spaceplane to launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket|date=8 November 2023|access-date=8 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-29 |title=United States Space Force Prepares X-37B for Launch |url=https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3599989/united-states-space-force-prepares-x-37b-for-launch/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.spaceforce.mil%2FNews%2FArticle-Display%2FArticle%2F3599989%2Funited-states-space-force-prepares-x-37b-for-launch%2F |access-date=2023-11-30 |website=United States Space Force |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-08 |title=Department of the Air Force scheduled to launch seventh X-37B mission |url=https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3583347/department-of-the-air-force-scheduled-to-launch-seventh-x-37b-mission/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.spaceforce.mil%2FNews%2FArticle-Display%2FArticle%2F3583347%2Fdepartment-of-the-air-force-scheduled-to-launch-seventh-x-37b-mission%2F |access-date=2023-11-30 |website=United States Space Force |language=en-US}}</ref>
The spaceplane is operated by the [[Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office]] and [[United States Space Force]], which considers the mission [[Classified information|classified]] and as such has not revealed the objectives. The spaceplane will be sent to orbit with a wide range of test and experimentation objectives. These tests include operating in new orbital regimes, experimenting with space domain awareness technologies and investigating the radiation effects to materials provided by NASA.<ref name="auto1">{{cite news|url=https://spacenews.com/u-s-air-force-x-37b-spaceplane-to-launch-on-a-spacex-falcon-heavy-rocket/|title=U.S. Air Force X-37B spaceplane to launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket|date=8 November 2023|access-date=8 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-29 |title=United States Space Force Prepares X-37B for Launch |url=https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3599989/united-states-space-force-prepares-x-37b-for-launch/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.spaceforce.mil%2FNews%2FArticle-Display%2FArticle%2F3599989%2Funited-states-space-force-prepares-x-37b-for-launch%2F |access-date=2023-11-30 |website=United States Space Force |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-08 |title=Department of the Air Force scheduled to launch seventh X-37B mission |url=https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3583347/department-of-the-air-force-scheduled-to-launch-seventh-x-37b-mission/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.spaceforce.mil%2FNews%2FArticle-Display%2FArticle%2F3583347%2Fdepartment-of-the-air-force-scheduled-to-launch-seventh-x-37b-mission%2F |access-date=2023-11-30 |website=United States Space Force |language=en-US}}</ref>


==Background and mission==
==Background and mission==
OTV-7 will be the fourth mission for the second X-37B built, and the seventh X-37B mission overall. It will be flown on a [[Falcon Heavy]] in the expendable center core-recoverable side cores configuration, and launched from [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A]]. It will be the second classified flight of Falcon Heavy, awarded in June 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.space.com/space-force-x-37b-spacex-falcon-heavy-1st-launch-dec-2023|title=SpaceX will launch the Space Force's mysterious X-37B space plane on a Falcon Heavy rocket Dec. 7|author1=Brett Tingley|date=9 November 2023|website=Space.com}}</ref><ref name="nextsfussf520905">{{Cite web |title=Falcon Heavy {{!}} USSF-52 |url=https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/110 |access-date=7 September 2022 |website=nextspaceflight.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afspc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1559450/air-force-awards-afspc-52-launch-services-contract-to-spacex/ |title=Air Force Awards AFSPC-52 Launch Services Contract to SpaceX|publisher=Air Force Space Command|date=June 21, 2018|access-date=September 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628050728/https://www.afspc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1559450/air-force-awards-afspc-52-launch-services-contract-to-spacex/|archive-date=June 28, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-08-20 |title=Contracts For Aug. 20, 2021 |url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/2741226/ |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=defense.gov |quote=Space Exploration Technologies Corp., Hawthorne, California, has been awarded a $19,226,072 bilateral modification (P00009) to previously awarded Space Force 52 contract FA8811-18-C-0003... ...the total cumulative face value of the contract is $149,226,072. |archive-date=20 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720205557/https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/2741226/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It is valued at US$130 million,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://spacenews.com/spacex-wins-130-million-military-launch-contract-for-falcon-heavy/|title=SpaceX wins $130 million military launch contract for Falcon Heavy|publisher=SpaceNews|first=Sandra|last=Erwin|date=21 June 2018|access-date=12 September 2018}}</ref> increased to $149.2 million in August 2021, due to "a change in the contract requirements" and expected to be completed by 14 April 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2741226/|title=Contracts For Aug. 20, 2021|date=20 August 2021|publisher=U.S. Department of Defense|access-date=21 August 2021}}</ref> Draft solicitation said the launch was {{cvt|6350|kg}} to GTO.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/06/26/u-s-air-force-certifies-falcon-heavy-rocket-awards-launch-contract/|title=U.S. Air Force certifies Falcon Heavy rocket, awards launch contract |publisher=SpaceNews|first=Stephen|last=Clark|date=26 June 2018|access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref> A month before launch, the Air Force announced that the mission will fly an [[Boeing X-37|X-37B]] spaceplane.<ref name="auto1"/>
OTV-7 will be the fourth mission for the second X-37B built, and the seventh X-37B mission overall. It will be flown on a [[Falcon Heavy]] in the expendable center core-recoverable side cores configuration, and launched from [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A]]. It will be the second classified flight of Falcon Heavy, awarded in June 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.space.com/space-force-x-37b-spacex-falcon-heavy-1st-launch-dec-2023|title=SpaceX will launch the Space Force's mysterious X-37B space plane on a Falcon Heavy rocket Dec. 7|author1=Brett Tingley|date=9 November 2023|website=Space.com}}</ref><ref name="nextsfussf520905">{{Cite web |title=Falcon Heavy {{!}} USSF-52 |url=https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/110 |access-date=7 September 2022 |website=nextspaceflight.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afspc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1559450/air-force-awards-afspc-52-launch-services-contract-to-spacex/ |title=Air Force Awards AFSPC-52 Launch Services Contract to SpaceX|publisher=Air Force Space Command|date=June 21, 2018|access-date=September 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628050728/https://www.afspc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1559450/air-force-awards-afspc-52-launch-services-contract-to-spacex/|archive-date=June 28, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-08-20 |title=Contracts For Aug. 20, 2021 |url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/2741226/ |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=defense.gov |quote=Space Exploration Technologies Corp., Hawthorne, California, has been awarded a $19,226,072 bilateral modification (P00009) to previously awarded Space Force 52 contract FA8811-18-C-0003... ...the total cumulative face value of the contract is $149,226,072. |archive-date=20 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720205557/https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/2741226/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It is valued at US$130 million,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://spacenews.com/spacex-wins-130-million-military-launch-contract-for-falcon-heavy/|title=SpaceX wins $130 million military launch contract for Falcon Heavy|publisher=SpaceNews|first=Sandra|last=Erwin|date=21 June 2018|access-date=12 September 2018}}</ref> increased to $149.2 million in August 2021, due to "a change in the contract requirements" and expected to be completed by 14 April 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2741226/|title=Contracts For Aug. 20, 2021|date=20 August 2021|publisher=U.S. Department of Defense|access-date=21 August 2021}}</ref> Draft solicitation said the launch was {{cvt|6350|kg}} to GTO.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/06/26/u-s-air-force-certifies-falcon-heavy-rocket-awards-launch-contract/|title=U.S. Air Force certifies Falcon Heavy rocket, awards launch contract |publisher=SpaceNews|first=Stephen|last=Clark|date=26 June 2018|access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref> A month before launch, the Air Force announced that the mission will fly an [[Boeing X-37|X-37B]] spaceplane.<ref name="auto1"/>


OTV-7 will be deployed into a low to high earth orbit.<ref name="auto1"/>
OTV-7 will be deployed into a low to high Earth orbit.<ref name="auto1"/>


==Payloads and experiments==
==Payloads and experiments==

Revision as of 12:42, 30 December 2023

USSF-52
Launch of OTV-7
Mission typeClassified
OperatorU.S. Space Force
COSPAR ID2023-210A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.58666Edit this on Wikidata
Mission duration6 months and 9 days (in progress)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeBoeing X-37B
ManufacturerBoeing
Launch mass6,350 kg (14,000 lb)[1]
PowerDeployable solar array, batteries[1]
Start of mission
Launch dateDecember 28, 2023 (2023-12-28Z), 01:07 UTC[2]
RocketFalcon Heavy (B1064.5 (sides) B1084 (core), B1065.5 (sides))
Launch siteLC-39A
ContractorSpaceX
End of mission
Landing siteTBD
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric to high Earth Orbit
OTV program
← OTV-6
OTV-8 →
 

United States Space Force-52 (USSF-52), also referred to as Orbital Test Vehicle 7 (OTV-7),[3][4] is the fourth flight of the second Boeing X-37B, an American unmanned vertical-takeoff, horizontal-landing spaceplane. It was launched to low Earth orbit aboard a Falcon Heavy rocket (for the first time) from LC-39A on 28 December 2023.[5]

The spaceplane is operated by the Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office and United States Space Force, which considers the mission classified and as such has not revealed the objectives. The spaceplane will be sent to orbit with a wide range of test and experimentation objectives. These tests include operating in new orbital regimes, experimenting with space domain awareness technologies and investigating the radiation effects to materials provided by NASA.[6][7][8]

Background and mission

OTV-7 will be the fourth mission for the second X-37B built, and the seventh X-37B mission overall. It will be flown on a Falcon Heavy in the expendable center core-recoverable side cores configuration, and launched from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A. It will be the second classified flight of Falcon Heavy, awarded in June 2018.[9][10][11][12] It is valued at US$130 million,[13] increased to $149.2 million in August 2021, due to "a change in the contract requirements" and expected to be completed by 14 April 2022.[14] Draft solicitation said the launch was 6,350 kg (14,000 lb) to GTO.[15] A month before launch, the Air Force announced that the mission will fly an X-37B spaceplane.[6]

OTV-7 will be deployed into a low to high Earth orbit.[6]

Payloads and experiments

Onboard experiments include NASA's Seeds-2 experiment investigating the effects of space-based radiation on plant seeds during a long-duration spaceflight.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Krebs, Gunter D. "X-37B OTV 1, 2, 3". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  2. ^ Davenport, Justin (29 December 2023). "Falcon Heavy launches USSF-52 spaceplane". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  3. ^ Erwin, Sandra (8 November 2023). "U.S. Air Force X-37B spaceplane to launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket". SpaceNews. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  4. ^ Clark, Stephen (8 November 2023). "In a surprise move, the military's spaceplane will launch on Falcon Heavy". Ars Technica. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  5. ^ "UPDATE: SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch on hold for USSF-52 mission". satnews.com. 10 December 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d "U.S. Air Force X-37B spaceplane to launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket". 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  7. ^ "United States Space Force Prepares X-37B for Launch". United States Space Force. 29 November 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  8. ^ "Department of the Air Force scheduled to launch seventh X-37B mission". United States Space Force. 8 November 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  9. ^ Brett Tingley (9 November 2023). "SpaceX will launch the Space Force's mysterious X-37B space plane on a Falcon Heavy rocket Dec. 7". Space.com.
  10. ^ "Falcon Heavy | USSF-52". nextspaceflight.com. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  11. ^ "Air Force Awards AFSPC-52 Launch Services Contract to SpaceX". Air Force Space Command. 21 June 2018. Archived from the original on 28 June 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  12. ^ "Contracts For Aug. 20, 2021". defense.gov. 20 August 2021. Archived from the original on 20 July 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022. Space Exploration Technologies Corp., Hawthorne, California, has been awarded a $19,226,072 bilateral modification (P00009) to previously awarded Space Force 52 contract FA8811-18-C-0003... ...the total cumulative face value of the contract is $149,226,072.
  13. ^ Erwin, Sandra (21 June 2018). "SpaceX wins $130 million military launch contract for Falcon Heavy". SpaceNews. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  14. ^ "Contracts For Aug. 20, 2021". U.S. Department of Defense. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  15. ^ Clark, Stephen (26 June 2018). "U.S. Air Force certifies Falcon Heavy rocket, awards launch contract". SpaceNews. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
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