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| SpaceX launches top-secret space shuttle before Irma hits Florida | SpaceX launches top-secret space shuttle before Irma hits Florida |
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| SpaceX launched the US air force’s super-secret space shuttle on Thursday, blasting off from Kennedy space center in Florida as schools and businesses boarded up for Hurricane Irma. | SpaceX launched the US air force’s super-secret space shuttle on Thursday, blasting off from Kennedy space center in Florida as schools and businesses boarded up for Hurricane Irma. |
| The crewless aircraft, a technology testing mini-shuttle capable of spending years in orbit, rode an unmanned Falcon rocket on the fifth such flight. | The crewless aircraft, a technology testing mini-shuttle capable of spending years in orbit, rode an unmanned Falcon rocket on the fifth such flight. |
| There are two X-37B orbital test vehicles in existence, and between them they have already logged five and a half years in orbit. Officials will not say what the spacecraft are doing up there. | There are two X-37B orbital test vehicles in existence, and between them they have already logged five and a half years in orbit. Officials will not say what the spacecraft are doing up there. |
| The last mission lasted almost two years and ended with a May touchdown at the runway formerly used by Nasa’s space shuttles. The first one launched in 2010. | The last mission lasted almost two years and ended with a May touchdown at the runway formerly used by Nasa’s space shuttles. The first one launched in 2010. |
| As has become customary, SpaceX landed its leftover booster back at Cape Canaveral for eventual reuse. | As has become customary, SpaceX landed its leftover booster back at Cape Canaveral for eventual reuse. |
| This was the first time SpaceX has provided a lift for the experimental minishuttle. The previous missions relied on United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rockets. Air force officials said they wanted to use a variety of rockets for the X-37B program, to be able to launch quickly if warranted. | This was the first time SpaceX has provided a lift for the experimental minishuttle. The previous missions relied on United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rockets. Air force officials said they wanted to use a variety of rockets for the X-37B program, to be able to launch quickly if warranted. |
| The Boeing-built mini-shuttle is 29ft long, with a 14ft wingspan. By comparison, Nasa’s retired space shuttles were 122ft long, with a 78ft wingspan. | The Boeing-built mini-shuttle is 29ft long, with a 14ft wingspan. By comparison, Nasa’s retired space shuttles were 122ft long, with a 78ft wingspan. |
| At the air force’s request, SpaceX stopped providing details about the X-37B’s climb to orbit a few minutes after liftoff. The booster’s return to SpaceX’s landing zone at Cape Canaveral air force station, however, was broadcast live. | At the air force’s request, SpaceX stopped providing details about the X-37B’s climb to orbit a few minutes after liftoff. The booster’s return to SpaceX’s landing zone at Cape Canaveral air force station, however, was broadcast live. |
| “The Falcon has safely landed,” a SpaceX launch controller announced. Cheers erupted at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California. | “The Falcon has safely landed,” a SpaceX launch controller announced. Cheers erupted at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California. |
| It was SpaceX’s 16th successful return of a first-stage booster. Booster rockets are normally discarded at sea. | It was SpaceX’s 16th successful return of a first-stage booster. Booster rockets are normally discarded at sea. |