SpaceX was scheduled to launch the US Space Forces’ secretive X-37B orbital test vehicle (OTV) from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center earlier today, but stormy weather postponed the launch until tomorrow.
What does this spacecraft do? Given it is with the Space Force and not NASA, it clearly has a national defense mission, yet it has also worked with NASA on scientific missions. This seventh launch of the spacecraft, designated OTV-7, will be “…operating in new orbital regimes, experimenting with space domain awareness technologies and investigating the radiation effects to NASA materials” according to a Space Force press release.
That’s about as clear as mud, and also the way the US Government wants to keep it. If this means the Chinese and Russians are scratching their heads, then that is all the better for our defense officials.
By the way, it is not clear why it is still called a “test vehicle” given it has been around since 2010 and already served multiple missions. Maybe this relates to the mission contents, though I expect the International Space Station is conducting many more tests.
I guess this will just have to be one more mystery.
Update: The spacecraft is still on the ground at the moment after numerous delays. The launch is now planned for December 13.
Second Update: The mission has been scrubbed for now. SpaceX stated the following:
We are standing down from tomorrow’s Falcon Heavy launch of USSF-52 to perform additional system checkouts. The payload remains healthy while teams work toward the next best launch opportunity. We’re also keeping an eye on the weather and will announce a new launch date once confirmed with the Range.
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