A Falcon 9 carrying X-37B beneath its protective shroud minutes before its Sept. 7 liftoff from Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Credit: SpaceX video

SpaceX launches X-37B ahead of Hurricane Irma

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With Hurricane Irma looming off the Florida coast, SpaceX beat unfavorable weather odds Thursday morning to send the U.S. Air Force’s X-37B reusable spaceplane back into orbit for its fifth classified mission.

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X-37B OTV-4 landing

As hurricane approaches, SpaceX poised to launch Air Force’s X-37B spaceplane

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Officials in Cape Canaveral, Florida, are forecasting only a 50 percent chance of acceptable weather for Thursday’s launch, which is expected to occur sometime between 9:00 a.m. and 3 p.m. Eastern.

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The U.S. Air Force's X-37B spaceplane landed Oct. 17, 2014 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California following 674 days in orbit. Credit: Boeing

Tory Bruno says ULA didn’t get to compete for Air Force X-37B launch that went to SpaceX

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The Air Force declined to discuss how SpaceX got the contract and if it was sole-sourced.

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X-37B OTV-4 landing

SpaceX will launch next secret X-37 Air Force mission

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It will be the fifth mission for the Air Force's advanced spaceplane, and the first time it hasn't lifted off aboard a ULA rocket.

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X-37B OTV-4 landing

X-37B lands after record-setting mission

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A secretive U.S. Air Force spaceplane landed in Florida early May 7 after spending nearly two years in orbit on a classified mission.

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