OTV-7

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 duration335 days, 11 hours and 23 minutes
(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 date2027 (planned) [citation needed]
Orbital parameters
Reference systemHighly elliptical high Earth orbit
Perigee altitude323 km (201 mi)
Apogee altitude38,838 km (24,133 mi)
Inclination59.1°
OTV program
← OTV-6
OTV-8 →

Orbital Test Vehicle 7 (OTV-7), also referred to as United States Space Force-52 (USSF-52) or USA-349,[3][4] is the fourth flight of the second Boeing X-37B, an American unmanned vertical-takeoff, horizontal-landing spaceplane. It was launched to a highly elliptical high 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 was 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]

  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. ^ "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.[permanent dead link]