X-37 Military Space Shuttle
Discussion
I spent the evening at Kielder Observatory last week, where one of the astronomers said they had recently view X-37 docking with the ISS.
Apparently this is an unmanned US military shuttle made by Boeing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_X-37#X-37B_Orb...
Google reveals a certain amount about X37, but what else is known, and are there other low key or secret spacecraft?
Apparently this is an unmanned US military shuttle made by Boeing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_X-37#X-37B_Orb...
Google reveals a certain amount about X37, but what else is known, and are there other low key or secret spacecraft?
What IS known is that is has never docked with the International Space Station.
It's a US military project and nothing to do with the ISS. It is also in a totally different orbit from the ISS and would not be able to dock with the ISS.
There are LOTS of military spacecraft - all unmanned. In the last 12 weeks the US has launched SEVEN military payloads. The US military has far more space launches than NASA and has a bigger budget.
It's a US military project and nothing to do with the ISS. It is also in a totally different orbit from the ISS and would not be able to dock with the ISS.
There are LOTS of military spacecraft - all unmanned. In the last 12 weeks the US has launched SEVEN military payloads. The US military has far more space launches than NASA and has a bigger budget.
Eric Mc said:
What IS known is that is has never docked with the International Space Station.
It's a US military project and nothing to do with the ISS. It is also in a totally different orbit from the ISS and would not be able to dock with the ISS.
There are LOTS of military spacecraft - all unmanned. In the last 12 weeks the US has launched SEVEN military payloads. The US military has far more space launches than NASA and has a bigger budget.
Even if it was to dock with the ISS they would have quite a problem keeping it a secret from the three Russians and one Italian currently aboard.It's a US military project and nothing to do with the ISS. It is also in a totally different orbit from the ISS and would not be able to dock with the ISS.
There are LOTS of military spacecraft - all unmanned. In the last 12 weeks the US has launched SEVEN military payloads. The US military has far more space launches than NASA and has a bigger budget.
davepoth said:
Eric Mc said:
What IS known is that is has never docked with the International Space Station.
It's a US military project and nothing to do with the ISS. It is also in a totally different orbit from the ISS and would not be able to dock with the ISS.
There are LOTS of military spacecraft - all unmanned. In the last 12 weeks the US has launched SEVEN military payloads. The US military has far more space launches than NASA and has a bigger budget.
Even if it was to dock with the ISS they would have quite a problem keeping it a secret from the three Russians and one Italian currently aboard.It's a US military project and nothing to do with the ISS. It is also in a totally different orbit from the ISS and would not be able to dock with the ISS.
There are LOTS of military spacecraft - all unmanned. In the last 12 weeks the US has launched SEVEN military payloads. The US military has far more space launches than NASA and has a bigger budget.
Ewan S said:
So 7 launches in 12 weeks. Tin foil hat time, or the reason they were finally able to find bin laden? Just what exactly are they doing up there?
At a total guess it could be GPS sats that are being launched. The US system was marginal for coverage last year - they only had a few more than needed - and of what was left many were getting towards EoL. There was talk of the programme for replacement getting more funding to speed it up.Eric Mc said:
It's been a combination of different satellites - some actual eavesdropping/spying - some communication - and the X-37 test flight which is part of a research programme for a possible military Shuttle.
Often satellites are plonked up there for short period intensive defined monitoring/intel purposes - they're specifically to drop out after a few weeks - so the concept of the feverish activity over Pakistan could be valid.Interesting video and explanation of the latest Atlas 5 GEO1 USAF flight from last week,
http://spaceflightnow.com/
NASA has had it. This is where the American launcher action is now.
http://spaceflightnow.com/
NASA has had it. This is where the American launcher action is now.
NailedOn said:
So no opening jaws at the front to swallow smaller spacecraft [disappointed].
The USAAF ceased to exist in 1947?) The USAF came into existence to replace it that year.
The X-37 was originally a NASA project but diminishing budgets meant they had to halt the testing of the concept. The Department of Defense (DoD) stepped in and took it over and are now running the project.
The DoD has had a bigger space budget than NASA for most of the last 40 years. Indeed, the now retired Space Shuttle would not even have been built if it hadn't been part of a DoD requirement.
The X-37 was originally a NASA project but diminishing budgets meant they had to halt the testing of the concept. The Department of Defense (DoD) stepped in and took it over and are now running the project.
The DoD has had a bigger space budget than NASA for most of the last 40 years. Indeed, the now retired Space Shuttle would not even have been built if it hadn't been part of a DoD requirement.
Eric Mc said:
The USAAF ceased to exist in 1947?) The USAF came into existence to replace it that year.
The X-37 was originally a NASA project but diminishing budgets meant they had to halt the testing of the concept. The Department of Defense (DoD) stepped in and took it over and are now running the project.
The DoD has had a bigger space budget than NASA for most of the last 40 years. Indeed, the now retired Space Shuttle would not even have been built if it hadn't been part of a DoD requirement.
USAAF/USAF. They look nearly the same on those old movies on BBC2!The X-37 was originally a NASA project but diminishing budgets meant they had to halt the testing of the concept. The Department of Defense (DoD) stepped in and took it over and are now running the project.
The DoD has had a bigger space budget than NASA for most of the last 40 years. Indeed, the now retired Space Shuttle would not even have been built if it hadn't been part of a DoD requirement.
Nice photo of X-37B inside the Atlas 5 rocket. (Courtesy of USAF.)
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