Missions

Atlas V OTV-1 Mission Booklet

Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla., (April 22, 2010) - A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket successfully launched the Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) for the Air Force's Rapid Capabilities Office at 7:52 p.m. EDT today from Space Launch Complex- 41.  The OTV, also known as the X-37B, supports space experimentation, risk reduction and concept of operations development for long duration and reusable space vehicle technologies.  This launch marks the third mission for ULA in 2010 and second Atlas V mission. 

"ULA is proud to have played a critical role in the success of this important test mission of the Orbital Test Vehicle," said Mark Wilkins, ULA vice president of Atlas programs. "This was a tremendous launch campaign highlighted by close teamwork between the U.S. Air Force, the ULA launch team and our many mission partners that made today's successful launch possible."

This mission was launched aboard an Atlas V 501 5.4m fairing configuration. This entailed using a single common core booster powered by the RD-180 engine and a single RL-10A engine Centaur upper stage.

ULA's next launch, currently scheduled for May 20, is the Air Force's first Block II-F navigation satellite for the Global Positioning System (GPS) aboard a Delta IV rocket from Space Launch Complex-37 here.

For more information on ULA, visit the ULA website at www.ulalaunch.com, or call the ULA Launch Hotline at 1-877-ULA-4321 (852-4321). Join the conversation at www.facebook.com/ulalaunch and twitter.com/ulalaunch.