X-37B Completes Second Space Mission | Aviation International News

X-37B Completes Second Space Mission

X-37B OTV-2 returns to Vandenberg AFB after its 469-day mission. (Photo: Boeing)

By David Donald • Contributor - UK

June 22, 2012

The second Boeing X-37B OTV (orbital test vehicle) touched down at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., on June 16 after a 469-day mission (USA-226). OTV-2 had launched from Cape Canaveral, Fla., on board an Atlas V launch vehicle on March 5, 2011. The first X-37B mission (USA-212) with OTV-1 was launched on April 22, 2010 and landed on December 3. Thus, the X-37B has now successfully accomplished two automatic recoveries of a vehicle from space. The only time this has been achieved before was the unmanned launch and recovery of the Soviet Buran shuttle in 1988.

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