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.
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 they’re big and they’re 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
Originally, it was scheduled for a three hour cruise.
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.
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.
Boeing builds the X37B Orbiter!
I am sure Communist China has the plans already via Clinton.
They probably built twice as many planes for Elon Musk.
I wonder if there a few more of these than we know about. Seems they might be useful in the Space Force.
“Today marks an incredibly exciting day for the 45th Space Wing,” said Brig. Gen. Doug Schiess, 45th Space Wing commander.....”. I’m not trying to be funny here. But depending how that general pronounces his name, it’s mighty much like the PA Dutch word for aaah, er, umm, fecal matter. As in “bull schiess!”
Great post; informative thread. Thanks.
*ping*