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Second X-37 space plane readied for launch

These photos chronicle the encapsulation of the U.S. Air Force's second X-37B space plane inside the bulbous 5-meter payload fairing of the Atlas 5 rocket. The fairing was then transported from a clean room processing facility, by space shuttle Discovery on its launch pad and to the Atlas 5 integration building.

The unmanned spaceship will launch in the shroud of the Atlas 5 rocket, orbit the Earth like a satellite and return home for a runway landing.


Photo credit: U.S. Air Force
 

Photo credit: U.S. Air Force
 

Photo credit: U.S. Air Force
 

Photo credit: U.S. Air Force
 

Photo credit: U.S. Air Force
 

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