Acquiring signal…

All launches

SpaceX

OTV-8 (X-37B) (USSF-36)

Success

Falcon 9 Block 5

T-minus to liftoff

HOURS

MINUTES

SECONDS

Friday August 22 2025, 03:50:00 UTC

StatusSuccess

Scrub riskHIGH

Go40%

VehicleFalcon 9 Block 5

OrbitLow Earth Orbit

PadLaunch Complex 39A

Launch CodexDossier

Every source for this mission in one place — news, social, references, notes & the exact timeline.

Explore

Acquiring satellite view…

Trajectory unknown

Launch Complex 39A

Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

28.608, -80.604

Loading map…

Mission

Eighth flight of the X-37B program. The X-37B is a dynamic and responsive spacecraft responsible for conducting a range of tests and experiments that expedite the development of critical next-generation technologies and operational concepts for reusable space capabilities. The OTV-8 mission in Low Earth Orbit includes operational demonstrations and experiments of next-generation technologies, including laser communications and the highest performing strategic grade quantum inertial sensor ever tested in space. Mission partners include the Air Force Research Lab and the Defense Innovation Unit, respectively.

Reusable Hardware

All boosters →

First Stage · Flight-provenB1092

active6th flight

Flights10

Landings10/10100%

Fastest turn25d 14h

Recovered · RTLS · LZ-2· 15 km downrange

54d 23h since last flight

Falcon 9 booster debuting on Starlink Group 12-13.

Previous flights · 9

Upper Stage · X-37B1X-37B 1

Active

4 flights· Low Earth Orbit

First X-37B. First flight on April 22, 2010.

Q's read

Weather & scrubHIGH risk

Weather Go40%LL2 Go90%Wind2 m/sGusts4 m/sCloud37%Temp25°C

Limiting rule: No flight through cumulus cloud with top at or above the freezing level.

100% cloud cover in layer above freezing (14805 ft) — approximated · ≥60% layer 13422–17835 ft (4413 ft thick) — approximated · METAR reports DISTANT lightning (beyond 10 SM, outside the LCC radius): "KTTS 270255Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 24/22 A3000 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT N-NE AND S RAB01"

Launch Timeline

Countdown

T-00:38:00

GO for Prop Load

T-00:35:00

Prop Load

T-00:35:00

Stage 1 LOX Load

T-00:16:00

Stage 2 LOX Load

T-00:07:00

Engine Chill

T-00:01:00

Startup

T-00:01:00

Tank Press

T-00:00:45

GO for Launch

T-00:00:03

Ignition

In-flight

T+00:00:00

Liftoff

T+00:01:12

Max-Q

T+00:02:14

MECO

T+00:02:18

Stage 2 Separation

T+00:02:25

SES-1

T+00:02:31

Booster Boostback Burn Startup

T+00:02:46

Fairing Separation

T+00:03:16

Booster Boostback Burn Shutdown

T+00:06:53

Entry Burn Startup

T+00:07:18

Entry Burn Shutdown

T+00:08:08

Stage 1 Landing Burn

T+00:08:40

Stage 1 Landing

Quick facts

VehicleFalcon 9 Block 5

OrbitLow Earth Orbit

PadLaunch Complex 39A

SiteKennedy Space Center, FL, USA

WindowFriday August 22 2025, 03:40:00 UTC→Friday August 22 2025, 07:40:00 UTC

Vehicle

FamilyFalcon

Height70 m

Diameter3.7 m

Stages2

ReusableYes

LEO capacity22,800 kg

Track record606/607 successful

Landings593/598