X-37B

[SteamWake]

Military launches a secret probe into space.

"Its kind of hard to keep a launch secret" they say... :haha:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1268138/X-37B-unmanned-space-shuttle-launched-tonight.html

[bookworm_020]

So will they tell us when it lands or do you need to file a freedom of information request??:hmmm:

[Wolfehunter]

yup... but what will it do? attack aliens...:O:

[TLAM Strike]

yup... but what will it do? attack aliens...:O:

Naw its mission spray paint graffiti on the side of Chinese spy satellites and shut down Google Earth. :up:

[JSLTIGER]

Honestly? If I had to guess, my opinion would be that the thing is designed to go into orbit and retrieve enemy satellites. Imagine if you had two or three of these things in orbit during some kind of conflict with China (just an example). You could in theory deorbit several of their communications or COMPASS satellites, rendering the entire system useless.

[SteamWake]

Scuttlebutt has it that this flight is an 'endurance' test mostly to check the battery performance.

[Wolfehunter]

Naw its mission spray paint graffiti on the side of Chinese spy satellites and shut down Google Earth. :up:Ya and it will say WE where here FIRST hehehe.. :woot:

[TLAM Strike]

Ya and it will say WE where here FIRST hehehe.. :woot:

Then the Russians will send up their 1960's vintage Soyuz and do the same to the ISS. :D


Anyways... this is just scary... I could swear I've seen this design before... wait...

X-37B...
http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/7645/x37b.jpg (http://img144.imageshack.us/i/x37b.jpg/)

I got it!

Farscape 1...
http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/1387/lexbigfarscape1.jpg (http://img265.imageshack.us/i/lexbigfarscape1.jpg/)

Now that can't be a coincidence... :cool:

[longam]

X-37B replacing this carries weapons. :hmmm:

http://anewnadir.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/drone_pic.jpg

[Turbografx]

I've been doing a good deal of reading on the X-37. The craft can remain in orbit for several months. It has been suggested that it may be used to carry and launch a number of small satellites anywhere in orbit over the globe at any time in order to cover multiple hot spots in real-time.
Another very likely possibility is use as a platform for the PGS (prompt global strike) program, for delivery of a conventional warhead to anywhere on the globe. The U.S. already has a space based PGS, the X-37b and its planned successor would give it a more mobile platform.

[XabbaRus]

That would be weaponisation of space would it not? Something that is covered by treaties.

I'm sure the Russians would be happy if it was for that purpose.

[TLAM Strike]

That would be weaponisation of space would it not? Something that is covered by treaties.

I'm sure the Russians would be happy if it was for that purpose.
Treaty(s) cover part of the situation. SALT II and the Outer Space Treaty prohibits Strategic Weapons and nuclear weapons in space.

Tactical Weapons are allowed IE you could have spacecraft to shoot down the other side's military spacecraft or to defend you're own.

[razark]

Treaty(s) cover part of the situation. SALT II and the Outer Space Treaty prohibits Strategic Weapons and nuclear weapons in space.

Tactical Weapons are allowed IE you could have spacecraft to shoot down the other side's military spacecraft or to defend you're own.

The Soviets put up armed space stations in the '70s. Check out the Almaz stations. They were armed with 23mm cannons, one of which was successfully tested against a target satellite.

[TLAM Strike]

The Soviets put up armed space stations in the '70s. Check out the Almaz stations. They were armed with 23mm cannons, one of which was successfully tested against a target satellite.

Yep! Earth's first [Dark Side]"Fully armed and operational Battle Station!"[/Dark Side]

:rock::rock::rock:


But while such weapons are cool, cheaper alternatives exist. Last year the PRC directed two of its old satellites to collide with each other, sort of a poor man's ASAT. Thanks to them dozen of birds have to maneuvered around the debris for years to come. :nope:

[Turbografx]

Treaty(s) cover part of the situation. SALT II and the Outer Space Treaty prohibits Strategic Weapons and nuclear weapons in space.

Tactical Weapons are allowed IE you could have spacecraft to shoot down the other side's military spacecraft or to defend you're own.


Exactly. These would be conventional, tactical/precision warheads.

[TLAM Strike]

Exactly. These would be conventional, tactical/precision warheads.

In space the difference between conventional and strategic is very small. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_bombardment)

We're talking about iron golf balls the deliver the equivalent damage of a 500lb bomb when they reach the ground. Imagine the payload bay of the shuttle loaded with them dropped over Beijing or Moscow!

[SteamWake]

In space the difference between conventional and strategic is very small. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_bombardment)

We're talking about iron golf balls the deliver the equivalent damage of a 500lb bomb when they reach the ground. Imagine the payload bay of the shuttle loaded with them dropped over Beijing or Moscow!

Wouldent they have one hellua time getting that into orbit?

[TLAM Strike]

Wouldent they have one hellua time getting that into orbit?
Not really, just build a factory/rail gun in orbit at one of the Lagrangian Points to process ore from Luna to make Kinetic Projectiles. Put the unprocessed ore around it as armor in case of attack and power it with solar cells and the whole thing could be self sustaining as long as its fed ore.


........ yikes inadvertently I just described the Doomsday Machine at ate System L-374!
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/2976/doomsdaymachine.jpg
http://api.ning.com/files/SrjxDaLiIDIJmi8EgIrds84fjKx0YD4FJUTf3Vx61FMFvSWT0g m2mTZuZO8DLC9VPOBKtwJBI25X8Xm1nW6MJyiCNVQJkcJ/doomsdaymachine.jpg