Locally Built Space Shuttle Blasts Off

The Seal Beach built X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle was launched into space from Cape Canaveral Saturday afternoon.

The unmanned space plane was built by Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems, the unit that designs and delivers satellites.  Its is the first United States space plan that is automated and can re-enter the atmosphere and land on an airstrip to be used again. If it meets expectations, it could help make space access more affordable and routine. Today’s launch caught the attention of foreign officials for the craft’s potential for use in spying or warfare.

“While details of the mission, the contract value, and the number of Boeing employees assigned to the program are classified, I can confirm that work on this program is performed in California at Boeing's Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, and El Segundo sites,” Boeing spokeswoman Diana Ball said in a written statement today.

According to Air Force officials, Saturday’s launch went off without any problems. It was originally scheduled for launch Friday but was twice delayed due to poor weather conditions.

The mission is experimental in nature, said Maj. Tracy A. Bunko, Air Force spokeswoman.

It is the second launch of the X-37B. The first was launched last year, and it stayed in space for 224 days. One goal of the mission is to test changes made to the craft and test its limits. The vehicle is designed to stay in orbit for 270 days, which is much longer than a manned space shuttle.

Designed like a miniature space shuttle, the X-37B is only 29 feet long.