Mysterious space plane spent a year orbiting Earth on secret mission
Source: Los Angeles Times
Mysterious space plane spent a year orbiting Earth on secret mission
By W.J. HENNIGAN
Los Angeles Times December 11, 2013
A year after the Air Force blasted it into orbit, an experimental space drone continues to circle the Earth.
Its mission and hush-hush payload, however, remain a mystery.
The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle, which looks like a miniature unmanned version of the space shuttle, was launched from Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Dec. 11, 2012.
At the time of launch, Air Force officials offered few details about the mission, saying that the space plane simply provided a way to test new technologies in space, such as satellite sensors and other components.
It was set to land on a 15,000-foot airstrip at Vandenberg Air Force Base, northwest of Santa Barbara, Calif. But the Air Force has never announced an exact landing date.
Although the X-37B program is classified, some of the particulars are known.
Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/12/11/211357/mysterious-space-plane-spent-a.html#storylink=cpy
lostincalifornia
(3,639 posts)sakabatou
(42,136 posts)It would only be able to have a laser and possible bombs. Otherwise the orbital mechanics would be ruined.
DJ13
(23,671 posts)Jesus Malverde
(10,274 posts)tanyev
(42,516 posts)catchnrelease
(1,944 posts)MisterP
(23,730 posts)underpants
(182,604 posts)Major Nikon
(36,818 posts)X designations have been used for military test aircraft since WWII at least. A quick google search reveals all sorts of pictures. The wiki entry lists specifications, launch dates, and amateur tracks of the aircraft.
FogerRox
(13,211 posts)Amateur hobbyists with telescopes have tracked every so called secret launch for about 15 years, post the orbital data online so others can take pictures. Modern computerized Go-To telescopes are very capable.
FogerRox
(13,211 posts)http://www.universetoday.com/65338/amateur-astronomer-images-x37-b-space-plane-in-orbit/
https://www.google.com/search?q=telescope+X-37B&client=firefox-a&hs=8bC&rls=org.mozilla:en-US fficial&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=bQCqUrDpFcSzyAHxuICoAw&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1120&bih=535
warrprayer
(4,734 posts)seveneyes
(4,631 posts)On one hand it's good to know we are still investing in space travel, and it provides some jobs.
On the other, we may still be a few generations from complete government transparency.
hunter
(38,302 posts)blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)Jesus Malverde
(10,274 posts)turned over to private corporations. That the military has the capabilities and they are not being used for the good of mankind is very sad.
jakeXT
(10,575 posts)Under the MOL program, two astronauts would launch atop a Titan 3 rocket in a spacecraft similar to NASA's Gemini capsules, then conduct reconnaissance missions from orbit using ultra high-resolution telescopes. The USAF scrapped the top secret program in 1969, but not before the then-Soviet Union devised its own space-based spy platform: Almaz.
Tucked within the Soviet's multiple Salyut space station program, Almaz arose in the 1970s and was reported to include a cannon weapons system for use in space.
http://www.space.com/4961-space-spies-revealed-documentary.html