X-37B Space Plane Lands at Vandenberg After Record Mission

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — June 16, 2012 — (USAF PR) – The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV), the Air Force’s unmanned, reusable space plane, landed at Vandenberg Air Force Base at 5:48 a.m. (PDT) June 16. OTV-2, which launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., March 5, 2011, conducted on-orbit experiments for 469 [...]

The X-37B after its first mission in December 2010. (Credit: USAF)
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — June 16, 2012 — (USAF PR) – The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV), the Air Force’s unmanned, reusable space plane, landed at Vandenberg Air Force Base at 5:48 a.m. (PDT) June 16.
OTV-2, which launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., March 5, 2011, conducted on-orbit experiments for 469 days during its mission.
“Team Vandenberg has put in over a year’s worth of hard work in preparation for this landing and today we were able to see the fruits of our labor,” said Col. Nina Armagno, 30th Space Wing commander. “I am so proud of our team for coming together to execute this landing operation safely and successfully.”
The X-37B is the newest and most advanced re-entry spacecraft. Managed by the Air Force Rapid Capabilities ...