5th X-37b Mission Complete, New record for the Programme
Discussion
The X-37b space-place has landed back at the Cape (yesterday) after a 780 day mission.
I'd love to know what it does, though I doubt we ever will know. It can't be a simple as intelligence gathering I wouldn't have thought, there are already plenty of systems for that.
Any thoughts?
https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/10/27/u-s-military...
I'd love to know what it does, though I doubt we ever will know. It can't be a simple as intelligence gathering I wouldn't have thought, there are already plenty of systems for that.
Any thoughts?
https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/10/27/u-s-military...
I don't think it's anything too sci-fi. From what I understand it simply provides the capability of taking experiments into orbit and then returning with the results. Stuff that is too 'sensitive' to do on the ISS or trust to an 'uncontrolled' return.
ETA or it's making it's annual delivery of pineal glands harvested from children to our alien overlords.
ETA or it's making it's annual delivery of pineal glands harvested from children to our alien overlords.
rovermorris999 said:
Great info, that that Drive site is a pain to use. The ad placement and bizarre text over run off the page made it a nightmare to read.I guess it's been de-orbited simply in order to change out the payload for new "experiments"
Given that the flights are all about 2 years long, the things it's doing must be fairly specific, and you have to imagine it's basically a cost reduction excise in sharing between scientific data gathering and some for of eavesdropping / reconnaissance !
Given that the flights are all about 2 years long, the things it's doing must be fairly specific, and you have to imagine it's basically a cost reduction excise in sharing between scientific data gathering and some for of eavesdropping / reconnaissance !
That's what makes me wonder what this does though, surely they have enough systems in orbit already to provide all the intelligence they could possibly need. What with the amount of satellites they have, not sure this would bring anything new to the intelligence gathering world.
Although, having said that, we know how quickly camera technology progresses, so maybe they use it to test new camera's etc.
Although, having said that, we know how quickly camera technology progresses, so maybe they use it to test new camera's etc.
It performs quite a few orbital plane changes - which is something "normal" satellites don't do. And it seems it performs these changes by using aerodynamic interaction with the upper atmosphere in conjunction with its thrusters. So this, I think, is the main "new technology" it is experimenting with.
It also has a small cargo bay into which other experimental payloads have been placed.
It also has a small cargo bay into which other experimental payloads have been placed.
AshVX220 said:
That's what makes me wonder what this does though, surely they have enough systems in orbit already to provide all the intelligence they could possibly need. What with the amount of satellites they have, not sure this would bring anything new to the intelligence gathering world.
Although, having said that, we know how quickly camera technology progresses, so maybe they use it to test new camera's etc.
Given the apparent move towards militarising space, an intelligence platform that can be deployed rapidly and potentially avoid some of the threats to leo satellites, kind of makes sense.Although, having said that, we know how quickly camera technology progresses, so maybe they use it to test new camera's etc.
take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey said:
I'd guess they're also using it for zero g chemistry / biology experiments.
seems unlikely that those sort of experiments would require such long term on-orbit exposure to zero g / space ?I suspect this 'small shuttle' allows military (and some civilian too) tech to be quickly tried in orbit, and then changes made to a new version of that tech, and when they are ready, the space plane de-orbits so it can be loaded with the new tech and sent back up again. Cost per £ has to be reasonable compared to the full sized shuttle, and orbit time is clearly effectively unlimited, so it could achieve several mission objectives on each flight, which shares costs between different organisations etc
annodomini2 said:
AshVX220 said:
That's what makes me wonder what this does though, surely they have enough systems in orbit already to provide all the intelligence they could possibly need. What with the amount of satellites they have, not sure this would bring anything new to the intelligence gathering world.
Although, having said that, we know how quickly camera technology progresses, so maybe they use it to test new camera's etc.
Given the apparent move towards militarising space, an intelligence platform that can be deployed rapidly and potentially avoid some of the threats to leo satellites, kind of makes sense.Although, having said that, we know how quickly camera technology progresses, so maybe they use it to test new camera's etc.
Space has been militarised since the dawn of the Space Age.
Eric Mc said:
annodomini2 said:
AshVX220 said:
That's what makes me wonder what this does though, surely they have enough systems in orbit already to provide all the intelligence they could possibly need. What with the amount of satellites they have, not sure this would bring anything new to the intelligence gathering world.
Although, having said that, we know how quickly camera technology progresses, so maybe they use it to test new camera's etc.
Given the apparent move towards militarising space, an intelligence platform that can be deployed rapidly and potentially avoid some of the threats to leo satellites, kind of makes sense.Although, having said that, we know how quickly camera technology progresses, so maybe they use it to test new camera's etc.
Space has been militarised since the dawn of the Space Age.
But maybe escalation of militarisation of space?
I.e. weapons and potentially combat in space.
I know weapons and combat have happened before, but more of it.
I genuinely don't think there is "more of it" to be honest apart from the fact that there are more nations involved in space technology than ever. As a result, naturally you would see some of these new countries getting involved in military applications too.
The USA and the Soviet Union started their military programmes right at the very start of their space capability. The Corona spy satellite programme was America's biggest single programme between 1958 and about 1963 when the ramping up of Apollo, for a while, garnered more funds. The US has traditionally spent more money on its military space flights than it has on its civilian programmes..
The Chinese have had a military space programme for half a century as has Israel, France and the UK.
The Space Shuttle would never have got funding without being military capable as well. Indeed, it was that aspect of the Shuttle's planned capability that worried the Russians the most. As it turned out, the Shuttle was a rather poor vehicle for military use although about a third of all payloads carried into orbit by the Shuttle were military in nature and many of the Shuttle's missions still remain classified.
The USA and the Soviet Union started their military programmes right at the very start of their space capability. The Corona spy satellite programme was America's biggest single programme between 1958 and about 1963 when the ramping up of Apollo, for a while, garnered more funds. The US has traditionally spent more money on its military space flights than it has on its civilian programmes..
The Chinese have had a military space programme for half a century as has Israel, France and the UK.
The Space Shuttle would never have got funding without being military capable as well. Indeed, it was that aspect of the Shuttle's planned capability that worried the Russians the most. As it turned out, the Shuttle was a rather poor vehicle for military use although about a third of all payloads carried into orbit by the Shuttle were military in nature and many of the Shuttle's missions still remain classified.
The X-37B is back again from doing who knows what for a new record 908 days in orbit. Its 6th mission.
I glided back and landed at NASA's Kennedy Space Center just after 5am local time. No doubt waking a few people up and setting off car alarms with its sonic booms.
It was launched on 17th May 2020 on top of an Atlas V rocket.
I glided back and landed at NASA's Kennedy Space Center just after 5am local time. No doubt waking a few people up and setting off car alarms with its sonic booms.
It was launched on 17th May 2020 on top of an Atlas V rocket.
It was heard and felt across large areas of Florida - reminiscent of the good old days of the Shuttle returning.
Took quite a few people by surprise and Space Force didn't confirm until late afternoon....
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article/3217077/x-...
Having been in orbit for 908 days, I guess most people forgot it was even up there..
Took quite a few people by surprise and Space Force didn't confirm until late afternoon....
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article/3217077/x-...
Having been in orbit for 908 days, I guess most people forgot it was even up there..
Edited by StephenP on Saturday 12th November 23:07
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