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SpaceX

OTV-7 (X-37B) (USSF-52)

Success

Falcon Heavy

T-minus to liftoff

HOURS

MINUTES

SECONDS

Friday December 29 2023, 01:07:00 UTC

StatusSuccess

Scrub riskMODERATE

Go65%

VehicleFalcon Heavy

OrbitElliptical Orbit

PadLaunch Complex 39A

Launch CodexDossier

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

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Trajectory unknown

Launch Complex 39A

Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

28.608, -80.604

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Mission

It is the seventh flight of the X-37B program. United States Air Force Orbital Test Vehicle is built by Boeing. It's an uncrewed 5000 kg, 8.8 m-long reusable mini-spaceplane capable of autonomous re-entry and landing.

Reusable Hardware

All boosters →

First Stage · NewB1084

expended1st flight

Flights1

Landings—

Fastest turn—

Expended — no recovery planned

Falcon Heavy core booster expended during the USSF-52 mission.

Strap-On Booster · Flight-provenB1064

expended5th flight

Flights6

Landings5/5100%

Fastest turn75d 9h

Recovered · RTLS · LZ-1· 15 km downrange

76d 10h since last flight

Side booster paired with B1065, launched 3 USSF missions, EchoStar 24 and the Psyche mission before expended during launch of Europa Clipper.

Previous flights · 5

Strap-On Booster · Flight-provenB1065

expended5th flight

Flights6

Landings5/5100%

Fastest turn75d 9h

Recovered · RTLS · LZ-2· 15 km downrange

76d 10h since last flight

Side booster paired with B1064, launched 3 USSF missions, EchoStar 24 and the Psyche mission before expended during launch of Europa Clipper.

Previous flights · 5

Upper Stage · X-37B2X-37B 2

Active

4 flights· Elliptical Earth Orbit

Second X-37B. First flight on March 5, 2011.

Q's read

Weather & scrubMODERATE risk

Weather Go65%LL2 Go90%Wind5 m/sGusts7 m/sCloud54%Temp29°C

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

max cloud-top 6454 m above freezing 4995 m (31% cover in 10 nmi) · no GLM flashes within 25 nmi / 30 min, likely cirrus / stratiform ice rather than cumulus

Quick facts

VehicleFalcon Heavy

OrbitElliptical Orbit

PadLaunch Complex 39A

SiteKennedy Space Center, FL, USA

WindowFriday December 29 2023, 01:07:00 UTC→Friday December 29 2023, 01:17:00 UTC

Vehicle

FamilyFalcon

Height70 m

Diameter12.2 m

Stages3

ReusableYes

LEO capacity63,800 kg

Track record12/12 successful

Landings21/23