In the United States launched its first unmanned orbital flight
April 23, 2010 – 9:28 pm
In the U.S., with AFB on Cape Kanaverell, Florida, April 22 was first launched an unmanned space plane X-37B.
The launch took place in drone 19:52 April 22 (2:55 on April 23 Moscow time) with rocket Atlas 5. U.S. Air Force reported that the launch was successful, but did not provide details of the mission vehicle in orbit. As noted Lenta.Ru, X-37B is able to remain in orbit for 270 days. Estimated landing sites – the U.S. Air Force Vandenberg base in California.
Flight of X-37B will be offline before entering the atmosphere during landing.
A few days earlier, Deputy Assistant Head of Space Programs, U.S. Air Force Gary Payton (Gary Payton), referring to the unit, told reporters that the agency “did not know when he would come back”.
The U.S. military did not disclose purposes of the launch vehicle, however, as previously assumed, in orbit will be carried out checking of all airborne drone systems, including management.
Research and development in X-37 were conducted in the U.S. from 1950. Testing apparatus were from 1986 to 2007. Purpose for which the U.S. Air Force plans to use the orbital plane is not disclosed. According to the official version of its main function will be on-orbit delivery of goods. According to other versions of the X-37 will be used for intelligence purposes.
