X-37B
Author
Discussion

ErnestM

Original Poster:

11,621 posts

296 months

Thursday 22nd April 2010
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Being launched from the cape tonight...

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/news/backgrou...

biggrin

FourWheelDrift

92,234 posts

313 months

Thursday 22nd April 2010
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"Thunderbirds are Go!!"

Eric Mc

125,606 posts

294 months

Friday 23rd April 2010
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I thought it looked familiar.

I haven't been following this programme too much. In fact, I thought it had been cancelled a few years ago.

It seems that the project was transferred from NASA to the USAF. Even if NASA loses its ability to put men in space, there is a good chance that the USDAF may actually gain this capbility - for the first time.
The USAF/DoD space budget is higher than NASA's.

jmorgan

36,010 posts

313 months

Friday 23rd April 2010
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Ah, two threads.....


Mentioned on the other the link to Dynasoar.

jingars

1,225 posts

269 months

Thursday 1st December 2011
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Thread resurrection alert!!!!!!

The X-37B, initially scheduled to return to earth after a nine month mission, is going to stay up for longer:

More at Wired and Spaceflight Now.

MartG

22,753 posts

233 months

Monday 13th February 2017
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Another resurrection -

"a report that the X-37B has lowered its orbit and increased activity has been seen at KSC's shuttle runway. The Eastern Range is apparently booked for a couple of days this week with a classified operation. It's very possible those of us in Central Florida might hear a sonic boom before long."

Looks like the current mission may be coming to a close

Eric Mc

125,606 posts

294 months

Monday 13th February 2017
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I think this will be the first return of the X-37 to Kennedy - and the first time the Shuttle runway has been used for a returning spacecraft since the final landing of Atlantis in July 2011.

MartG

22,753 posts

233 months

Monday 13th February 2017
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Yes Eric - I was surprised to read that - previous missions have landed at Vandenberg. Maybe it's just in case it needs to divert - I think there are storms forecast for California later this week

ukaskew

10,642 posts

250 months

Tuesday 14th February 2017
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Have they ever said what they're actually doing with them?

RizzoTheRat

28,774 posts

221 months

Tuesday 14th February 2017
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I hadn't realised the previous one had stayed up so long either

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/02/air-forces...

Eric Mc

125,606 posts

294 months

Tuesday 14th February 2017
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Is it down yet?

Will there be any video footage of the landing?

So far, the USAF have not released any video - only photos.

2fast748

1,271 posts

224 months

Tuesday 14th February 2017
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Eric Mc said:
Is it down yet?

Will there be any video footage of the landing?

So far, the USAF have not released any video - only photos.
According to people on Twitter it appears this may have just been an exercise. The Pentagon have said it's still in orbit and there are no plans to land it soon.

Observations of it in orbit will probably be the best answer, though I did read somewhere today it's disappearance from its recent orbit is what prompted rumours of it landing.

Mystery - as befits such a vehicle!

Vitorio

4,296 posts

172 months

Tuesday 14th February 2017
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636 days in orbit, quite impressive

Wonder what it does up there though

MartG

22,753 posts

233 months

Tuesday 14th February 2017
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