45th
Space
Wing
Launches
Atlas
V
Carrying
X-37B
Orbital
Test
Vehicle
22
April
2010
The
45th
Space
Wing
successfully
launched
a
United
Launch
Alliance-built
Atlas
V
Evolved
Expendable
Launch
Vehicle
from
Space
Launch
Complex
41
at
7:52
p.m.
(EDT)
today.
The
Atlas
V
rocket
carried
the
X-37B
Orbital
Test
Vehicle
(OTV),
making
its
first
space
flight.
The
X-37B
will
provide
a
flexible
space
test
platform
to
conduct
various
experiments
and
allow
satellite
sensors,
subsystems,
components
and
associated
technology
to
be
efficiently
transported
to
and
from
the
space
environment
where
it
will
need
to
function.
A
number
of
new
technologies
will
also
be
tested
on
the
OTV
itself.
"If
these
technologies
on
the
vehicle
prove
to
be
as
good
as
we
estimate,
it
will
make
our
access
to
space
more
responsive,
perhaps
cheaper,
and
push
us
in
the
vector
toward
being
able
to
react
to
warfighter
needs
more
quickly,"
said
Mr.
Gary
Payton,
Air
Force
Deputy
Under
Secretary
for
Space
Programs.
"This
launch
helps
ensure
that
our
warfighters
will
be
provided
the
capabilities
they
need
in
the
future,"
said
Col.
André
Lovett,
45th
Space
Wing
vice
commander,
Launch
Decision
Authority
for
the
mission.
"The
45th
Space
Wing
is
proud
to
launch
this
historic
mission
and
continue
our
commitment
to
assuring
access
to
the
high
frontier."
The
mission
marked
a
number
of
important
firsts.
"As
the
first
U.S.
unmanned
reentering
space
vehicle,
the
first
of
its
kind,
it
has
been
remarkably
easy
to
work
with,"
said
Lt.
Col.
Erik
Bowman,
45th
Launch
Support
Squadron
Commander.
"Processing
and
preparations
went
extremely
smooth,
and
there
were
absolutely
no
delays
in
the
vehicle
processing.
Overall
there
was
great
cooperation
between
the
Air
Force
and
industry
teams
of
Boeing,
ULA,
and
Astrotech,
where
we
processed
the
spacecraft,
to
make
sure
everything
went
smoothly."
The
mission
was
also
the
first-ever
launch
of
an
Atlas
V
with
the
501
configuration,
requiring
no
solid
rocket
motors,
and
the
first
launch
in
some
five
years
to
involve
a
5-meter
class
fairing,
said
Colonel
Bowman.
"This
vehicle
is
light
enough
to
launch
without
the
solid
rocket
motors
even
with
the
larger
fairing,
making
this
a
rather
unique
configuration."
The
X-37B
program
directly
supports
the
Department
of
Defense's
technology
risk
reduction
efforts
for
new
satellite
systems.
It
will
provide
an
"on-orbit
laboratory"
test
environment
to
prove
new
technology
and
components
before
those
technologies
are
committed
to
operational
satellite
programs.
Contact:
45th
Space
Wing
Public
Affairs,
321-494-5933
or
45swpa@patrick.af.mil