Dimensions of the vehicle include an overall length of 29.2 feet, a wingspan of 14.10 feet and a height of 9.5 feet. Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) is 11,000lb. The payload measures 7 feet x 4 feet. Orbital speeds (Low Earth Orbit) reach 17,426 miles per hour.
Launching of the X-37 is accomplished by way of an Atlas V 501 series rocket (by United Launch Alliance) with a boosted 'Centaur' rocket stage adding additional propulsion during the voyage. The X-37 sits within a payload fairing prior to launch and is then released when the desired altitude is achieved. Landing is autonomous and speeds nearing Mach 25 are reached during this action. The X-37 is the only space plane, after the Soviet-era 'Buran' shuttle, to feature this autonomous landing capability. The craft is reusable.
To date (2017), there have been four major missions involving the X-37B (flights OTV-1 through OTV-4). OTV-1 was launched on April 22nd, 2010 and conducted mission USA-212 which lasted over 224 days. It completed the first American autonomous orbital runway landing upon its return. OTV-2 launched on March 5th, 2011 for mission USA-226 and remained in space for over 468 days. This mission marked the first-flight of the second X-37B example. OTV-3, launched on December 11th, 2012, went on mission USA-240 which lasted over 674 days. it marked the second flight of the first X-37B example. OTV-4 was launched on May 20th, 2015 for mission USA-261 and marked over 717 total days in orbit. This was the second flight of X-37B and the first flight to land at the Shuttle Landing Facility of Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Two flyable X-37B spacecraft have been completed to date (2017). Their missions remain largely secretive to the public so speculation abounds as to their true purpose. Some view the series as nothing more than test vehicles collecting data on different components during missions. Others suspect the series to be in line with USAF dominance of space - attempting to remain steps ahead of a rising Chinese space program.
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