The Real Story Behind NASA’s Resurrected Space Plane

Gizmodo ^ | 11/26/2010 | David Axe

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

The aviation and space press buzzed last week with the news that NASA had quietly moved its two long-grounded X-34 space planes from open storage at the space agency's Dryden center - located on Edwards Air Force Base in California - to a test pilot school in the Mojave Desert. At the desert facility, the mid-'90s-vintage, robotic X-34s would be inspected to determine if they were capable of flying again. It seemed that NASA was eying a dramatic return to the business of fast, cheap space access using a reusable, airplane-style vehicle - something the Air Force has enthusiastically embraced with its mysterious X-37B spacecraft.

The truth, it turns out, is a bit more complicated, even confusing - but no less exciting. If everything works out, the X-34s might help pioneer not just an emerging method of accessing space, but a new space-exploration business model, as well.

A Wednesday call to Orbital Sciences, the original manufacturers of the X-34, resulted in a brief conversation with a bemused company official. Barry Berneski, Orbital's communications director, said he had read the X-34 news, but had heard nothing on the subject from inside the firm. "They might be just trying get it out of Edwards' valuable real estate," Berneski said of the 59-foot-long space planes, only one of which ever flew - and just once - before the program was canceled on cost grounds in 2001.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Ping

[Army Air Corps]

Ping.

[Jet Jaguar]

BTTT

[The Comedian]

Since "global warming" and "Muslim outreach", I wouldn't trust a single damn word out of NASA's lying mouth, or assume any good will toward America regarding anything they do.

Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

[Army Air Corps]

The Comedian doubleplus unbellyfeel Big Barry?

[The Comedian]

Weary of the prolefeed.

Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Sounds like somebody - with some money - (not NASA or USAF directly though) wants to get something into space queitly.

[The Comedian]

Sounds like somebody - with some money - (not NASA or USAF directly though) wants to get something into space queitly.

That's an insightful and disturbing interpretation.

Saudi anti-Jew satellites, anyone?

Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

[skinkinthegrass]

Anti-Jewish Hollywierd (MGM / Fox / Sony) and / or Barbara Streisand......maybe.

[Lancey Howard]

Since "global warming" and "Muslim outreach", I wouldn't trust a single damn word out of NASA's lying mouth, or assume any good will toward America regarding anything they do.

I haven't trusted NASA since they murdered a bunch of astronauts by sending them into space on the freshly "green"-foamed Columbia.

[IrishCatholic]

Man, you’re on it tonight with the posts. I’ve been clicking on every one. Way to go. Do you have an aerospace/defense ping list?

[Frantzie]

Sad but true. Most people will have no idea what you are talking about. The whole thing is sickening.

[ZOOKER]

Maybe it's nothing more exotic than a yard sale to make payroll.

Sad to see an agency that conquered the moon in the 70's now scrounging through the scrapyard for something that might reach LEO...

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks!

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Yes,I will add you to my list.

[Rebelbase]

[Robert A Cook PE]

Then again, the “official” X-37B may have failed “something important” and the “older/smaller/less capable” X-34 might be being tried as a hurry-up replacement.

[Robert A Cook PE]

“NASA,” for example, resurrected a couple of SR-71’s for a few flights after the NSA/CIA grounded all of them for a while as being “unneeded.”