The US Air Force's not-so-secret spaceplane is getting a new ride next week, when the fifth X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV-5) lifts off atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 booster from Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Under command of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, the unmanned orbiter will be placed in an orbit with a higher inclination to the equator than previous missions to expand its operational envelope.

The September 7 launch is a first for the X-37B project. Previous missions were all launched by a United Launch Alliance Atlas V booster. However, SpaceX has recently moved from civilian launches to include military contracts in its portfolio, and the Falcon 9 was tapped for OTV-5.