Article

2020-04-30 Science & Technology

Secretive Air Force X-37B space plane is launching its sixth mission in May that's expected to break its previous record of 780 days in low orbit

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Skidmark 2020-04-30 04:35|| || Front Page|| [11125 views ] Top

#1 The x-37B has been far more useful that I think anyone expected. The fact there's been no rust to build a bigger or more improved version indicates it's "a pretty nifty kite."

Posted by M. Murcek 2020-04-30 07:45|| 2020-04-30 07:45|| Front Page Top

#2 Look out for that Iranian satellite.

Posted by bbrewer126 2020-04-30 11:27|| 2020-04-30 11:27|| Front Page Top

#3 Any sense on how many we have? Curious if they can take a manned package up todo special things and then come back, offering real plausible deniability? It is after all a mini space shuttle.

Posted by NoMoreBS 2020-04-30 11:27|| 2020-04-30 11:27|| Front Page Top

#4 Um, there are two we know about. X-37C, if built would allow 6 ~~astronauts~~ operatives to go to orbit and return quickly...

Posted by M. Murcek 2020-04-30 12:32|| 2020-04-30 12:32|| Front Page Top

#5 Like straight out of a Tom Clancy novel, you could probably put an astronaut in the X-37B cargo bay and bring him / her back, but it would mean surviving for at least 24 hours in an EVA package. Including prep, launch, mission and return. Not encouraging, but in desperate straights, who knows?

Posted by M. Murcek 2020-04-30 12:36|| 2020-04-30 12:36|| Front Page Top

#6 And that's desperate straits. My usage is fine, spelchek is not.

Posted by M. Murcek 2020-04-30 12:38|| 2020-04-30 12:38|| Front Page Top

#7 Isn't this pretty much the same concept as the Space Shuttle?

Posted by Abu Uluque 2020-04-30 14:52|| 2020-04-30 14:52|| Front Page Top

#8 It'll be interesting to read about the missions and experiments being conducted by the X-37 someday.

Posted by charger 2020-04-30 14:52|| 2020-04-30 14:52|| Front Page Top

#9 That little X-37B is an awesome little toy. It should make China very, very, very nervous.

Posted by DarthVader 2020-04-30 15:03|| 2020-04-30 15:03|| Front Page Top

#10 Like straight out of a Tom Clancy novel, you could probably put an astronaut in the X-37B cargo bay and bring him / her back, but it would mean surviving for at least 24 hours in an EVA package. Including prep, launch, mission and return. Not encouraging, but in desperate straights, who knows?

*raises hand*

Posted by swksvolFF 2020-04-30 15:21|| 2020-04-30 15:21|| Front Page Top

#11 Not it packs and launches, visually, like a standard payload. Doesn't wing-up till the second stage. Tells me they could mount it on a 3 stage.

Posted by Skidmark 2020-04-30 18:09|| 2020-04-30 18:09|| Front Page Top

23:32 trailing wife
23:30 Lex
23:29 trailing wife
23:21 trailing wife
23:12 49 Pan
22:43 trailing wife
22:42 swksvolFF
22:31 trailing wife
22:28 Lex
22:10 SteveS
22:08 swksvolFF
22:02 swksvolFF
21:54 swksvolFF
21:34 Dron66046
21:23 Dron66046
21:11 Dron66046
21:08 Dron66046
20:54 Lex
20:53 Frank G
20:52 Dron66046
20:37 Frank G
20:35 Frank G
20:29 NoMoreBS
20:21 49 pan