Air Force to launch second orbital test vehicle

Posted by John McHaleWASHINGTON, 3 March 2011. Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office officials announced the launch of the second X-37B March 4 with a back-up launch opportunity March 5. This second mission will build upon the OTV-1 on-orbit demonstration, validate, and replicate initial testing and fine tune the technical parameters of the vehicle tests.For the first X-37B OTV mission, Air Force officials focused on testing and evaluating the performance capabilities of the vehicle. AFRCO is leading the Defense Department's orbital test vehicle initiative, by direction of the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology, and logistics and the secretary of the Air Force.Launch specialists at the Air Force Space Command's 45th Space Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., will launch the vehicle from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on an Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex-41. The vehicle will land at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., and will be recovered by technicians from the 30th Space Wing. The launch window for the mission opens at 3:39 p.m. Est. Visit http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/Multimedia_Webcast.shtml for live streaming of the launch.