Posted on 10/27/2019 11:15:29 AM PDT by BenLurkin
Looks like the shuttle went through the chop shop for sure.
Soooo, what exactly does it do for 780 days in space, hmmm?
This mission was almost complete.
We would have not had full real-time communications.
Nothing! Nothing at all, just takes a few postcard pictures, that's all. Maybe drops off a few titanium rods orbiting Mecca with a nice note "Love and kisses from the USA! XOXOXO DJT" on them. Tourist stuff, knowwhumsayin'?
>>Looks like the shuttle went through the chop shop for sure.<<
Someone should Photoshop it up on blocks with no wheels ;) :)
I wonder if China/Russia telescopes track with real-time video. Probably orient the shuttle bay toward space.
https://www.airspacemag.com/space/spaceplane-x-37-180957777/
I think the clue is how low an orbit [the X-37B] is in, says Weeden. The spaceplane is orbiting at an altitude of about 320 kilometers (a little under 200 miles), which is lower than the International Space Station. Low orbits require more maneuvering, and therefore more fuel, to maintain. And fuel adds weight. One of the reasons that the traditional exquisite imaging satellites are so hard to launch is because theyre big and theyre heavy, says Weeden. Hall thrusters could enable lighter, cheaper reconnaissance satellites to be orbited.
Read more at https://www.airspacemag.com/space/spaceplane-x-37-180957777/#mSOxxEGQtwKaCTWV.99
>>Soooo, what exactly does it do for 780 days in space, hmmm?<<
Sing “1,347,840 Bottles of Beer on the Wall. ((780 days X 24 hours X 60 minutes X 60 seconds) divided by 5 seconds per verse — check my math)
Originally, it was scheduled for a three hour cruise.
“Soooo, what exactly does it do for 780 days in space, hmmm?”
I would guess that the main purpose of the test, beyond the obvious checkouts of systems was to try to see if it could move around up there (change orbits) without being immediately detected. If it can, it could sneak up on enemy satellites and learn a lot about them.
... Soooo, what exactly does it do for 780 days in space, hmmm?
None of your d.mn business
Shut up and eat your peas
Ummmm, no. The military already has global real time comms everywhere on the surface whether the X37 is there or not.
In fact, you can even get the same general capability on the commercial market. Iridium phones, among other things.
That would be a big fat no. There is no stealth in space and the X-37B was tracked in real time for every second it was up in orbit - using commercial, private sector tech, no less. See for yourself:
Private space flight has made real time tracking of everything in orbit a necessity.
The GSV due in this sector over a year ago was delayed by the threat of another Affront uprising and could not get close enough to displace its cargo until a day or so ago. They promise to have a backup plan in case something else unforeseen crops up. The USAF breathed a sigh of relief at the news.
Lol, one advantage to being older is getting obscure reference jokes.
The X37B is the second in a line of about 5 I think. They are going to scale them up with each model. E model is supposed to carry like 20 passengers or cargo.
It would be neat if they are flying this to the moon and back every couple weeks. It could be useful when building a moon base or bigger space station.
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