USA-299
USA-299, also referred to as 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 and remains in orbit. Its mission designation is part of the USA series.
| 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 | 699 days, 22 hours, 57 minutes (in progress) |
| 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 site | Shuttle Landing Facility |
| 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 | |
The spaceplane is operated by the 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.[2]
Mission
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.[3]
OTV-6 was deployed into an orbit with an inclination of approximately 44.60°.[4]
OTV-6 remains in orbit as of April 2022.
FalconSat-8
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:
- MEP (Magnetic gradient Electrostatic Plasma thruster), a novel electromagnetic propulsion system
- MMA (Metamaterial antenna), a low power, high performance antenna
- CANOE (CArbon NanOtubes Experiment)
- ACES (Attitude Control and Energy Storage), a commercial reaction wheel modified into a flywheel
- SkyPad, off-the-shelf cameras and GPUs integrated into a low power package
References
- "X-37B OTV 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6". Gunter's Space Page. 14 January 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- "FalconSat 8". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
- Graham, William (16 May 2020). "ULA Atlas V launches sixth mission for X-37B spaceplane". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
- "OTV-6 Launch". zarya.info. Retrieved 18 September 2020.