X-37B

SteamWake · 04-23-10, 09:55 AM

Military launches a secret probe into space.

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

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worl...d-tonight.html

bookworm_020 · 04-23-10, 07:28 PM

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

Wolfehunter · 04-23-10, 10:36 PM

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

TLAM Strike · 04-23-10, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfehunter

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

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

JSLTIGER · 04-24-10, 08:49 AM

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 · 04-24-10, 09:26 AM

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

Wolfehunter · 04-24-10, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

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

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

TLAM Strike · 04-24-10, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfehunter

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

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

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

X-37B...

I got it!

Farscape 1...

Now that can't be a coincidence...

longam · 04-24-10, 06:02 PM

X-37B replacing this carries weapons.

Turbografx · 04-25-10, 12:14 PM

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 · 04-25-10, 06:10 PM

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 · 04-25-10, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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 · 04-25-10, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

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 · 04-25-10, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by razark

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]

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.

Turbografx · 04-25-10, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

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.

04-23-10, 09:55 AM	#1
SteamWake Rear Admiral Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13,224 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	X-37B Military launches a secret probe into space. "Its kind of hard to keep a launch secret" they say... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worl...d-tonight.html __________________ Follow the progress of Mr. Mulligan : http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=147648

04-23-10, 07:28 PM	#2
bookworm_020 Navy Seal Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sinking ships off the Australian coast Posts: 5,966 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	So will they tell us when it lands or do you need to file a freedom of information request?? __________________ "There is always one person in any organization who knows whats going on, That person must be fired"

04-23-10, 10:36 PM	#3
Wolfehunter Crusty Capt. Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2,752 Downloads: 40 Uploads: 25	yup... but what will it do? attack aliens... __________________

04-24-10, 08:49 AM	#5
JSLTIGER The Old Man Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Parkland, FL, USA Posts: 1,437 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	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. __________________ Thor: Intel Core i7 4770K\|ASUS Z87Pro\|32GB DDR3 RAM\|11GB EVGA GeForce RTX 2080Ti Black\|256GB Crucial M4 SSD+2TB WD HDD\|4X LG BD-RE\|32" Acer Predator Z321QU 165Hz G-Sync (2540x1440)\|Logitech Z-323 2.1 Sound\|Win 10 Pro Explorer (MSI GL63 8RE-629 Laptop): Intel Core i7 8750H\|16GB DDR4 RAM\|6GB GeForce GTX 1060\|128GB SSD+1TB HDD\|15.6" Widescreen (1920x1080)\|Logitech R-20 2.1 Sound\|Win 10 Home

04-24-10, 09:26 AM	#6
SteamWake Rear Admiral Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13,224 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Scuttlebutt has it that this flight is an 'endurance' test mostly to check the battery performance. __________________ Follow the progress of Mr. Mulligan : http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=147648

04-24-10, 06:02 PM	#9
longam Admiral Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,014 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	X-37B replacing this carries weapons.

04-25-10, 12:14 PM	#10
Turbografx Old Stormalong Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: The Gret Stet of Loosiana Posts: 232 Downloads: 104 Uploads: 0	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.

04-25-10, 06:10 PM	#11
XabbaRus Navy Seal Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 5,330 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	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. __________________

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