Posted on 05/30/2010 11:37:34 AM PDT by shield
A month ago, the U.S. Air Force launched an X-37B UOV (unmanned orbital vehicle). X-37B is a remotely controlled mini-Space Shuttle. The space vehicle has been spotted by amateur astronomers (who like to watch spy satellites as well), and the X-37B appears to be going through some tests. The X-37B is believed to have a payload of about 227-300 kg (500-660 pounds), and is capable of staying in orbit for 9 months. The payload bay is 2.1x1.4 meters (7x4 feet). When returned to earth, it will land by itself (after being ordered to use a specific landing area.) The X-37B weighs five tons, is nine meters (29 feet) long and has a wingspan of 4 meters (14 feet). The Space Shuttle is 56 meters long, weighs 2,000 tons and has a payload of 24 tons. The X-37B is a classified project, so not many additional details are available. It's been in development for eleven years, but work was slowed down for a while because of lack of money. A second X-37B is now being built, and is to be launched next year.
What makes the X-37B so useful is that it is very maneuverable, contains some internal sensors (as well as communications gear), and can carry mini-satellites, or additional sensors, in the payload bay. Using a remotely controlled arm, the X-37B could refuel or repair other satellites. But X-37B is a classified project, with few details about its payload or mission (other than testing the system on its first mission), future missions will involve intelligence work, and perhaps servicing existing spy satellites (which use up their fuel to change their orbits.)
so....like are we spying on ourselves and then is bambam giving the info to the Chinese or what???
I mean everything the commander and chief orders at this juncture is pretty much treason is it not??????
I think the ability to have a mini-shuttle fleet that can field service satellites would be a tremendous advantage, and a huge money saver. It could also prevent serious damage and loss of satellites from other damaged satellites.
There are very few areas of the Earth that are not being spied upon by some satellite, anyway. Who cares what ‘spy’ capabilities are on a military version of the XB-37 anyway? They are the ones developing the technology. We, as a nation, benefit.
how many nuclear weapons is that I wonder?
you miss my point...
anything good the military now does.....is conceivably a negative with a Marxist as the commander and cheif....
Which leads, IMHO, to the only sensible conclusion these days:
Anyone not completely paranoid is probably suffering from HUTA syndrome.
I feel so much safer now knowing that we’re launching technology to monitor potential terrorist threats.
...
Wait.. .what it’s watching us?
Who needs pilots?
My question is .. can this space ship go into “high orbit”, or does it have to stay in “low earth orbit” ..??
The reason I’m asking is because this might be a way to re-supply the space station .. instead of having to use Russian space craft.
Anybody know ..??
Every breath you take,
Every move you make,
Every smile you fake,
I'll be watching you.
‘The X-37B is believed to have a payload of about 227-300 kg (500-660 pounds)... The payload bay is 2.1x1.4 meters (7x4 feet). how many nuclear weapons is that I wonder?”
Don’t know, but it’s about 1.1 Michael Moores.
The station itself is in a fairly low orbit.
How high this one can reach is dependent on the booster used. Put it on a Titan with solids, I imagine it can get pretty high.
However payload is probably not really enough for routine resupply.
The Shuttle Orbiter does not weigh “2000 tons” as the article states. IIRC, the Shuttle weighs about 100 tons.
The payload used to be higher, but VP Gore agreed with the Russians when they asked that the International Space Station use a 57 degree orbit instead of the 28 degree orbit that we had planned for. The change in orbital inclination increased the delta V requirement which cut the payload capability of the Orbiter substantially. When I was a Shuttle engineer, I saw a study that showed that simply agreeing with the Russkies on the high inclination orbit added $20B to the cost of the Station.
However, it made it easier for the Russkies to get to the Station thereby saving them money. I suspect that the Russians had actual engineers on their negotiating team.
Oh yeah, the USAF vehile has a puny payload bay and would not be able to carry much to the Station.
As this technology continues to develop this has got to pay significant dividends over time.
If we ever do get to a point where it would be possible to re-fuel some of our most important space assets that would be huge, they could remain operational for many times what they would have been originally planned for.
And that is just one type of application this system could have.
The W87 warhead (300 kilotons), built for the MX missle, weighs in between 440 and 600 lbs and fits in a space less than 6x2 feet. However, the 1967 Outer Space Treaty bans nuclear weapons in space, where space is generally understood to begin at an altitude of 100 km.
Hey Vaquero,
remember bill clinton gave MIRv info to the chi-coms in exchange for campaign donations?
Some day we’ll find out what the magic negro is getting and from who in exchange for his throwing America away.
That cargo bay of 7 ft by 4 ft could rescue one or two stranded astronauts. The ride won’t be comfortable, but at least it could get them home alive.
The best use for this baby?
Go up, snip off the arms of a ChiCom or Soviet spy satellite that is retired, dark, lost, or dead . . . put it in the cargo bay, and bring it back for analysis.
Yeah, of course....the Loral crappola.
I quote that one all the time...same marxism, different marxist...traitors...treasonous bastards all
Yeah, I thought about the size of the craft and wondered how they would be able to carry some of the replacement stuff.
Anyway, I hope the trials accomplish whatever they’re supposed to.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.