View source for OTV-5

{{Short description|Third flight of the second Boeing X-37B}}
{{Use dmy dates|date = May 2015}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = USA-277
| image = OTV-5 Launch wide.jpg
| image_caption = Launch of OTV-5
| mission_type = Classified
| operator = [[Air Force Space Command]]
| COSPAR_ID = 2017-052A
| SATCAT = 42932
| website =
| mission_duration = {{Age in years, months and days|2017|9|7|2019|10|27}}
| spacecraft_type = [[Boeing X-37|Boeing X-37B]]
| manufacturer = [[Boeing]]
| launch_mass = {{convert|5400|kg|lb|abbr=on}}<ref name="GSP">{{cite web |url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/x-37.htm |title=X-37B OTV 1, 2, 3 |work=Gunter's Space Page |first=Gunter D. |last=Krebs |access-date=10 July 2013}}</ref>
| power = Deployable solar array, batteries<ref name="GSP" />
| launch_date = {{Start-date|7 September 2017|timezone=yes}}
| launch_rocket = [[Falcon 9]], [[List of Falcon 9 first-stage boosters#B1040|B1040.1]]
| launch_site = [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39|LC-39A]]
| launch_contractor = [[SpaceX]]
| landing_date = {{End-date|27 October 2019}}
| landing_site = [[Shuttle Landing Facility]] Runway 33
| orbit_reference = [[geocentric orbit|Geocentric]]
| orbit_regime = [[Low Earth orbit|Low Earth]]
| orbit_periapsis = {{convert|355|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| orbit_apoapsis = {{convert|356|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| orbit_inclination = 54.5&nbsp;degrees
| apsis = gee
| instruments        =
| insignia           =
| insignia_caption   =
| insignia_size      =
| programme          = '''OTV program'''
| previous_mission   = [[USA-261|OTV-4]]
| next_mission       = [[USA-299|OTV-6]]
}}'''USA-277''', also referred to as '''Orbital Test Vehicle 5''' ('''OTV-5'''), is the third flight of the second [[Boeing]] [[Boeing X-37|X-37B]], an American unmanned [[VTHL|vertical-takeoff, horizontal-landing]] [[spaceplane]]. It was launched to [[low Earth orbit]] aboard  a [[Falcon 9]] rocket from [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39|LC-39A]] on September 7, 2017. Its mission designation is part of the [[List of USA satellites|USA series]].
The spaceplane was operated by [[Air Force Space Command]], which considers the mission [[Classified information|classified]] and as such has not revealed the objectives. However, the Air Force did reveal that among the onboard payloads was an experimental [[oscillating heat pipe]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Air Force preparing to launch fifth Orbital Test Vehicle mission|url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1296566/air-force-preparing-to-launch-fifth-orbital-test-vehicle-mission/|website=U.S. Air Force|date=31 August 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-16}}</ref> Additionally, it was revealed after OTV-5 landed that it had deployed three [[CubeSat|cubesats]] in orbit.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=USA 295, 296, 297|url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/usa-295.htm|website=space.skyrocket.de|access-date=2020-05-16}}</ref>
== Mission ==
OTV-5 is the third mission for the second X-37B,<ref name="otv2">{{cite news |last1=Graham |first1=William |title=ULA Atlas V launches sixth mission for X-37B spaceplane |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2020/05/ula-atlas-v-launch-sixth-x-37b/ |access-date=28 April 2021 |work=NasaSpaceflight.com |date=15 May 2020}}</ref> and the fifth X-37B mission overall. It flew on [[Falcon 9]] booster B1040 from [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39|Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A]], which touched down at [[Landing Zones 1 and 2|Landing Zone 1]] following launch.<ref>{{Cite web|title=OTV-5 Mission|url=https://www.spacex.com/news/2017/09/07/otv-5-mission|last=Shanklin|first=Emily|date=2017-09-07|website=SpaceX|language=en|access-date=2020-05-16}}</ref> It was fastest turnaround of a X-37B at 123 days.
OTV-5 was deployed into an [[orbital inclination]] of 54.5°, higher than previous X-37B missions. The Air Force has not disclosed the reason for this.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Here's What We Know The Shadowy X-37B Was Up To During Its Record 780 Days In Space|url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/30699/here-what-we-know-the-shadowy-x-37b-was-up-to-during-its-record-720-days-in-space|last=Trevithick|first=Joseph|website=The Drive|date=28 October 2019 |access-date=2020-05-16}}</ref>
After a record-setting 780 days in orbit, OTV-5 returned to land at the [[Shuttle Landing Facility]] on October 27, 2019.<ref name=":0" />
== Satellite Deployments ==
Sometime during its orbital mission, OTV-5 deployed three [[CubeSat|cubesats]], given the designations USA 295, 296 and 297. The deployment was not announced until after OTV-5 had landed, which led to many accusing the US of breaking the [[Registration Convention]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Analysis: Was the X-37B/OTV mission 5 illegal under international law?|url=https://www.seradata.com/analysis-was-the-x-37b-otv-mission-5-illegal-under-international-law/|last=McDowell|first=Jonathan|date=2020-01-02|website=Seradata|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-16}}</ref> The convention, which the US has ratified, requires newly deployed satellites to be promptly registered with the [[United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Registration Convention|url=http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/spacelaw/treaties/introregistration-convention.html|website=www.unoosa.org|access-date=2020-05-16}}</ref>
== See also ==
* [[USA-212]]
* [[USA-226]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}{{X-37B flights}}{{Orbital launches in 2017}}
[[Category:Spacecraft launched in 2017]]
[[Category:Satellites of the United States Air Force]]
[[Category:Spacecraft which reentered in 2019]]
[[Category:USA satellites]]
[[Category:Boeing X-37]]