Liftoff For OTV-2!

The second X-37B unmanned mini-shuttle launched into orbit today aboard an Atlas V rocket. The X-37 is the first unmanned space vehicle that's designed to land through the atmosphere and be reusable. There are no details on how long this test flight will last, but the first flight operated remotely for almost nine months.

The X-37B design combines the best of aircraft and spacecraft design into an affordable, unmanned space-based test platform. Program objectives include space experimentation, risk reduction, and concept-of-operations development for reusable space vehicle technologies.