Falcon 9 to Launch X-37B
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is set for a semi-classified mission on Thursday, carrying into orbit the X-37B spacecraft for the U.S. Air Force. The winged space plane will complete its mission without the public watching with details like payloads & experiments as well as the craft's target orbit being kept under wraps by the Air Force.
Per the Air Force's request, coverage of the ascent mission will end at the point of fairing separation around three minutes into the flight. Falcon 9 is set to attempt its next Return-to-Launch-Site to recover the first stage of the rocket via a powered landing at Cape Canaveral's Landing Zone 1.
Live Video by SpaceX
| Launch Date: September 7, 2017 | Launch Updates |
| Window: 13:50-18:55 UTC | X-37B Spacecraft Overview |
| Launch Site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center | Falcon 9 FT |
| Launch Vehicle: Falcon 9 FT Block 4 | Countdown Timeline |
| Payload: X-37B OTV-5 | Launch Profile |
| Target Orbit: Classified (Low Earth Orbit) | SpaceX Archive |
| 1st Stage Landing: T+8 min 14 sec |
