December 1, 2024
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X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle Fact Sheet
Editors
Victoria Samson
Space Situational Awareness
Space Sustainability
X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet
Editors
Victoria Samson
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The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) is a technology demonstrator and experimental vehicle which is likely used for testing new reusable space launch vehicle technologies (such as guidance and thermal protection) and on-orbit testing of new sensor technologies and satellite hardware for risk reduction. The X-37B has also been used to deploy small satellites. While it does have some capability for orbital inspection, repair, and retrieval, it is unlikely to perform these functions given its limited payload bay and altitude range. It has near-zero feasibility as an orbital weapons system for attacking targets on the ground.
