U.S. Space Force’s National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program launched the USSF-36 mission carrying the U.S. Air Force X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) spacecraft, at 11:50 p.m. EST (8:50 p.m. PST) into orbit Aug. 21 from historic Launch Complex (LC)-39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida. (Photo credit: SpaceX)
During the on-orbit mission, dubbed OTV-8, the Boeing-made spacecraft will conduct a wide range of tests and experiments focused on laser communication tech and quantum inertial sensors,…
The U.S. Space Force’s X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle Mission Seven successfully landed at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, March 7, 2025. The X-37B landed at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, to exercise the service’s ability to recover the spaceplane across multiple sites. (U.S. Space Force courtesy photo)
Powered by 27 Merlin engines, generating more than five million pounds of combined thrust, a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket lifts off from Launch Complex (LC)-39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Dec. 28, 2023 at 8:07 p.m. EST, carrying the U.S. Space Force (USSF)-52 mission into Earth orbit. (SpaceX photo)
