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SpaceXFalcon 9 Block 5Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

OTV-8 (X-37B) (USSF-36)

Launched

August 22, 2025 · 03:50 UTC

Launch SuccessfulWeather 90% go
USSF-36

Image: SpaceX

Summary

OTV-8 (X-37B) (USSF-36) launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 from Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA on August 22, 2025 at 03:50 UTC. The launch window ran from 03:40 to 07:40 UTC. It was SpaceX's 553rd launch, 104th this year and humanity's 7,038th orbital launch attempt. It was the 462nd Falcon 9 Block 5 flight and the 101st this year. Booster B1092 flew for the 6th time and landed at Landing Zone 2. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). The spacecraft was X-37B 1 (1). 2 objects from this launch are catalogued, all of them payloads.

Watch
Vehicle
Falcon 9 Block 5 · SpaceX
Booster
  • B1092 · flight 6 · Return to Launch Site at Landing Zone 2 · landed17/17 landed here · 54 days after its previous flight, Starlink Group 10-34 · 15 km downrange
Mission
Government/Top Secret · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)for USSF
Milestone
462nd Falcon 9 Block 5 flight · 101st this yearSpaceX's 553rd launch104th this yearhumanity's 7,038th orbital launch attempt189th orbital launch attempt this year

Spacecraft

X-37B 1 (1)

First X-37B. First flight on April 22, 2010.

  • Destination: Low Earth Orbit

The X-37B spaceplane will land at the Shuttle Landing Facility or Vandenberg Space Force Base after this flight.

Flight preview

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Flight timeline

21 steps, T−38 min to T+8 min 40 s
  1. T−38MGO for Prop Load
  2. T−35MProp Load
  3. T−35MStage 1 LOX Load
  4. T−16MStage 2 LOX Load
  5. T−7MEngine Chill
  6. T−1MStartup
  7. T−1MTank Press
  8. T−45SGO for Launch
  9. T−3SIgnition
  10. T−0Liftoff
  11. T+1M12SMax-Q
  12. T+2M14SMECO
  13. T+2M18SStage 2 Separation
  14. T+2M25SSES-1
  15. T+2M31SBooster Boostback Burn Startup
  16. T+2M46SFairing Separation
  17. T+3M16SBooster Boostback Burn Shutdown
  18. T+6M53SEntry Burn Startup
  19. T+7M18SEntry Burn Shutdown
  20. T+8M8SStage 1 Landing Burn
  21. T+8M40SStage 1 Landing

Catalogued objects

2 catalogued: 2 payloads; 2 still in orbit

  • X-37B OTV-8 · NORAD 65271 · in orbit
  • LIMASAT · NORAD 65272 · in orbit

Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org

About this launch

Eighth flight of the X-37B program. The X-37B is a dynamic and responsive spacecraft responsible for conducting a range of tests and experiments that expedite the development of critical next-generation technologies and operational concepts for reusable space capabilities. The OTV-8 mission in Low Earth Orbit includes operational demonstrations and experiments of next-generation technologies, including laser communications and the highest performing strategic grade quantum inertial sensor ever tested in space. Mission partners include the Air Force Research Lab and the Defense Innovation Unit, respectively.

Official page: SpaceX

Pad

Map of Launch Complex 39A

Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

212th launch from Launch Complex 39A, 18th this year · 270th from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

Local pad time at liftoff: Aug 21, 11:50 PM EDT, at night

224 launches from this pad · 283 from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

20 days after the previous launch from this pad

All launches from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USAOpen in maps

Updates

Launch successfull.

hitura-nobad · Aug 22, 2025 · source

Show 8 earlier updates

  • Spacecraft separation.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 8/22/2025 · source

  • Liftoff!

    hitura-nobad · 8/22/2025 · source

  • Updated launch weather, 90% GO.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 8/22/2025 · source

  • Updated launch weather, 65% GO at start of window (80% GO at end).

    Cosmic_Penguin · 8/20/2025 · source

  • GO for launch.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 8/20/2025 · source

  • Refined launch window.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 8/18/2025 · source

  • Added tentative launch window.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 8/17/2025 · source

  • NET August 21.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 7/28/2025 · source

Questions

When did OTV-8 (X-37B) (USSF-36) launch?

OTV-8 (X-37B) (USSF-36) launched on August 22, 2025 at 03:50 UTC. The launch window ran from 03:40 to 07:40 UTC.

Where can I watch OTV-8 (X-37B) (USSF-36)?

Coverage: SpaceX OTV-8 (X-37B) (USSF-36); Watch live: SpaceX Falcon 9 launches secretive military mini-shuttle from Kennedy Space Center; 🚀 LIVE: SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches X-37B Spaceplane. Watch the replay

What rocket launched OTV-8 (X-37B) (USSF-36)?

Falcon 9 Block 5, flown by SpaceX. Falcon 9 Block 5 spec sheet

Where did OTV-8 (X-37B) (USSF-36) launch from?

Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA. Liftoff was Aug 21, 11:50 PM EDT local time at the pad.

Did the booster land?

Booster B1092 flew for the 6th time and landed at Landing Zone 2.

What orbit was OTV-8 (X-37B) (USSF-36) going to?

Low Earth Orbit (LEO), a government/top secret mission.

How many satellites did OTV-8 (X-37B) (USSF-36) launch?

2 payloads from this launch are catalogued, 2 of them still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).