X-37B now in orbit!

"Pat Flannery" wrote in message
news
The launch apparently went without a hitch, and the spaceplane has now
separated from the Centaur upper stage:
http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av012/status.html
I imagine amateur satellite watchers will be keeping a very close eye on
the X-37B to see if it starts modifying its orbit using its onboard
engine.



And Air Force Space Command released two pics
of the Atlas V with X-37 rolling out to the pad.
http://www.afspc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123200899

And the Minotaur 4 launch with HTV2 is delayed until
Thurs by weather
http://www.afspc.af.mil/pressrelease...p?id=123201029

Pat

I was wondering what the possibility was, of an air launch from a B-52,
using a booster similar to Pegasus - too heavy?

"Jonathan" wrote in message
...

"Pat Flannery" wrote in message
news
The launch apparently went without a hitch, and the spaceplane has now
separated from the Centaur upper stage:
http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av012/status.html
I imagine amateur satellite watchers will be keeping a very close eye on
the X-37B to see if it starts modifying its orbit using its onboard
engine.



And Air Force Space Command released two pics
of the Atlas V with X-37 rolling out to the pad.
http://www.afspc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123200899

And the Minotaur 4 launch with HTV2 is delayed until
Thurs by weather
http://www.afspc.af.mil/pressrelease...p?id=123201029

Pat

On 4/25/2010 10:35 AM, Joseph S. Powell, III wrote:
I was wondering what the possibility was, of an air launch from a B-52,
using a booster similar to Pegasus - too heavy?

It would take a very large booster (like the Atlas V) to get it into
orbit, so lugging it around on a B-52 is out.
The Air Force recently released an initial request for proposals on a
reusable first stage for a space booster, but even that would probably
require a second stage unless the X-37B grows to have a lot more
internal propellant capacity or expendable drop tanks on it:
http://www.parabolicarc.com/2010/04/...oster-program/

Pat