Archive for the ‘Space’ Category

Let’s hope it’s up to all sorts of no good.

The Air Force launched its third Orbital Test Vehicle, the X-37B, Dec. 11, 2012, at Cape Canaveral, Fla. The third launch follows closely behind a record-setting 469 days in space for the second OTV. (Courtesy photo)

Air Force launches 3rd X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle

In the next installment to improve space capability and further develop an affordable, reusable space vehicle, the Air Force conducted its third X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle launch here on December 11, officials said.

The launch comes on the heels of the successful flight of OTV-2, which made an autonomous landing at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., June 11 after a record 469 days in space.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with the strides we’ve made in this program and the success of the X-37B vehicle on the first two flights,” said Mr. Richard McKinney, Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for Space. “However, it is important to keep in mind that this is an experimental vehicle and a third mission is still relatively young for a test program. This is the first re-flight of a vehicle so that is certainly a key objective for us. We have only just begun what is a very systematic checkout of the system.”

This is OTV-1, the first one that flew in 2010. See Secret Space Plane is Back for more.

SpaceX Dragon blasts off to International Space Station

Liftoff of Falcon 9 and Dragon from Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral, Fl. October 7, 2012. Credit: SpaceX

It was the second launch of a Dragon capsule to the orbiting lab by the California-based SpaceX company. The first was last spring.

This time was no test flight, however, and the spacecraft carried 1,000 pounds of key science experiments and other precious gear on this truly operational mission. There was also a personal touch: chocolate-vanilla swirl ice cream tucked in a freezer for the three station residents.

A new space age is dawning.

Great gallery of photos on The Atlantic.

Though it was over by the time he was born, Gemini has always been a favorite of Murdoc’s.

From a collection of Soviet space propaganda posters.

Secretive Air Force space plane sets endurance record

A secretive unmanned space plane is now in orbit for 270 days – and plans are to keep it up there a bit longer.

The experimental Air Force craft, known as the Orbital Test Vehicle-2, has been circling the Earth for about nine months. The X-37B orbital test vehicle was due to land in California this week, but the Air Force said Tuesday that the mission will be extended. A landing date has not been set.

It was launched on March 5th. Let’s hope it’s doing all sorts of sneaky stuff.

Schematic and photos of X-37B OTV-1 here.

Sure would be great if this turns out to work as advertised.

Astronaut Ron Garan took this image during the spacewalk conducted on Tues., July 12, 2011. It shows the International Space Station with Space Shuttle Atlantis docked on the right and a Russian Soyuz on the far left. In the foreground is the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) experiment installed during the STS-134 mission. AMS is a state-of-the-art particle physics detector designed to use the unique environment of space to advance knowledge of the universe and lead to the understanding of the universe's origin by searching for antimatter and dark matter, and measuring cosmic rays. Image Credit: NASA

Besides the shuttle, there are currently two Soyuz and two Progress vehicles docked. The vehicle nose-down in this photo is Soyuz TMA-21 which brought three Expedition 28 crew members to the ISS. It will depart in September. At the extreme left of the station, you can see a solar panel and the tail end of Progress M-11M (Progress 43 to NASA).