Article Posted on : - Apr 23, 2010

The X-37B/Orbital Test Vehicle spacecraft . A Boeing photo

NEW DELHI (BNS): A prototype space plane X-37B, developed for the US military has been launched into orbit from Florida.

An unmanned Atlas V rocket carrying the miniature space shuttle blasted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force station on Thursday at 0052 BST (1952 EDT), the BBC said.

While in orbit, the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle will conduct classified technology experiments for inspection and analysis.

"The top priority technology demonstration on this first flight is the vehicle itself,” Gary Payton, the US Air Force's deputy under secretary for space programs, was quoted as saying.

He added, “ getting it into orbit, getting the payload bay doors open, the solar array deployed, learning about on-orbit attitude control and bringing it all back."

Once the mission is complete, a command will be sent from the ground prompting the 5,000kg (11,000lb) space plane to fire its engine to re-enter the atmosphere. It will then autonomously navigate its way to the 4.5km (15,000ft) - long primary runway at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the report said.

According to released specifications, the space plane weighs about 11,000-pounds and is just over 29 feet in length. It stands slightly more than 9 1/2 feet in height and has a wingspan just over 14 feet across.

The rocket built by United Launch Alliance, a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Boeing, is designed to spend as long as nine months in space, then land autonomously on a runway.

The Air Force (USAF) will use the vehicle to test advanced guidance, navigation and control, thermal protection systems, avionics and high temperature structures and seals.

NASA started the project in 1990s to develop a new-generation of reusable spacecraft- to try to trim time between flights and cut costs. When funding reportedly dried up the project was handed over to Pentagon. Depending on the success of the flight, the Air Force plans to launch a second vehicle in 2011.