Boeing X-37B OTV-7
Success
DEC 29202301:07:00 UTCFourth flight of the second X-37B airframe, and the first X-37B mission launched on a Falcon Heavy - all prior missions flew on Atlas V or Falcon 9. The spacecraft flew to a highly elliptical orbit (323 × 38,838 km, 59.1° inclination), the first time an X-37B had operated outside low Earth orbit.
The classified payload contract was awarded in June 2018 for $130 million, increased to $149.2 million in August 2021 due to a change in requirements. The Air Force confirmed the payload would be the X-37B spaceplane just one month before launch.
LIFTOFF
DEC 29 202301:07:00 UTC
Success
launched from LC-39A Kennedy
aboard Falcon Heavy B5 FH-009 into HEO
Broadcast
Watch how the launch went
Boosters · 3
- 01 Booster 1 B1084 corecore no recovery attempt
- 02 Booster 2 B1064.5 sideside Landed on ground pad · LZ-1
- 03 Booster 3 B1065.5 sideside Landed on ground pad · LZ-2
Payload
USSF-52 (Boeing X-37 B OTV-7)
Military communications
