X-37B: Secrets of the US military spaceplane

Gerald · 11-25-12, 08:55 PM

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Classified data
The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle is a US Air Force unmanned, space plane whose purpose is shrouded by secrecy. (Copyright: US Air Force)

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/2012...ion=technology

Nice image,in link

Note: 25 November 2012

soopaman2 · 11-25-12, 10:07 PM

A smaller version of the space shuttle?

Does nothing for cargo transfer into orbit.

Hey Russia! *sticks out his thumb*

Can this thing actually achieve upper orbits? If so it may be useful if scaled up.

The future of American space travel is sadly in the hands of private industry. Sir Richard Branson and others are more cutting edge than any countries space program to date. Not due to budget contraints, but due to ambition.

TLAM Strike · 11-25-12, 10:36 PM

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Originally Posted by soopaman2

Does nothing for cargo transfer into orbit.

Well an F-16 or RQ-1 does nothing for cargo transfer either, but imagine where the Air Force would be without them.

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Can this thing actually achieve upper orbits? If so it may be useful if scaled up

The X-37B sits on the top of the Centaur stage of an Atlas V rocket, so I bet they could give the X-37B escape velocity if they really wanted to.

eddie · 11-25-12, 11:19 PM

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Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

The X-37B sits on the top of the Centaur stage of an Atlas V rocket, so I bet they could give the X-37B escape velocity if they really wanted to.

It would probably need a couple of SRB's if it wants to get into orbit,lol

Catfish · 11-26-12, 07:02 AM

If it is "secret" it is there to kill people one way or another.

The US is now building a weapon system that can strike any location of the earth withih one hour. I can really imagine how that works for keeping peace. I can as well imagine what it does to national debt.

TLAM Strike · 11-26-12, 01:48 PM

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Originally Posted by Catfish

If it is "secret" it is there to kill people one way or another.

The U-2 was secret, and all it did was take pictures. The only people it ever killed was Major Anderson, and some ROCAF pilots.

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The US is now building a weapon system that can strike any location of the earth withih one hour. I can really imagine how that works for keeping peace. I can as well imagine what it does to national debt.

We can already wipe out any country on Earth in about 15 minutes. That's one hell of a deterrent.

Oh and shame on Uncle Sam for employing all those Aerospace Engineers, with no other place to use their scarce, valuable, and irreplaceable skills and knowledge in today's economy they should be working at Wal Mart.

11-25-12, 10:07 PM	#2
soopaman2 Der Alte Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 3,316 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 0	A smaller version of the space shuttle? Does nothing for cargo transfer into orbit. Hey Russia! sticks out his thumb Can this thing actually achieve upper orbits? If so it may be useful if scaled up. The future of American space travel is sadly in the hands of private industry. Sir Richard Branson and others are more cutting edge than any countries space program to date. Not due to budget contraints, but due to ambition. __________________ If Hitler invaded Hell I would make at least a favourable reference to the devil in the House of Commons. -Winston Churchill- The most fascinating man in the world.

11-26-12, 07:02 AM	#5
Catfish Dipped Squirrel Operative Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: ..where the ocean meets the sky Posts: 17,766 Downloads: 38 Uploads: 0	If it is "secret" it is there to kill people one way or another. The US is now building a weapon system that can strike any location of the earth withih one hour. I can really imagine how that works for keeping peace. I can as well imagine what it does to national debt.