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Diminutive and mysterious, the Pentagon’s X-37B set to launch again
MSN ^
| 12/9/23
| Christian Davenport
Posted on 12/10/2023 4:30:48 PM PST by Roman_War_Criminal
It’s an itty-bitty spaceplane, not quite 30 feet long and under 10 feet tall, with a pair of stubby wings and a rounded, bulldog-like nose. But despite its diminutive size — it looks like a miniature version of the space shuttle — the Pentagon’s most mysterious spacecraft, known as the X-37B, has built an outsize reputation.
Is it a secretive Pentagon weapon? Is it stealthy? Does it sneak up to satellites? What exactly does it do in space? And why is it up there for so long?
The Pentagon won’t say. And the veil of secrecy over the X-37B continues ahead of its launch Sunday at 8:14 p.m. Eastern on its seventh mission. But this time there are some clues that at least something is different.
The drone, which flies without anyone on board, is to be launched for the first time on SpaceX’s powerful Falcon Heavy, which is more powerful than the rockets that have launched it in the past. That’s led to speculation that the mission will be in a much higher orbit, which appears to be the case according to recent documents. SpaceX won the $130 million contract for the launch in 2018.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: spaceforce; usaf; usmilitary; x37b
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To: Roman_War_Criminal
It has to take more tic-tacs to orbit.
2
posted on
12/10/2023 4:36:52 PM PST
by
Fai Mao
( OStarve the Beast and steal its food)
To: Roman_War_Criminal
What would be so harmful to have four men suited up like that?
3
posted on
12/10/2023 4:38:15 PM PST
by
higgmeister
(In the Shadow of The Big Chicken! )
To: higgmeister
4
posted on
12/10/2023 4:43:01 PM PST
by
TLI
(ITINERIS IMPENDEO VALHALLA)
To: Roman_War_Criminal
I tried to pull it up on a live feed and it says the launch is tomorrow at 07:30 PM.
5
posted on
12/10/2023 4:44:08 PM PST
by
higgmeister
(In the Shadow of The Big Chicken! )
To: higgmeister
To: TLI
But on the pad after a mission there would be little fuel and it would not be sitting static with four guys standing there with any maintenance equipment. Something else is going on.
7
posted on
12/10/2023 4:47:55 PM PST
by
higgmeister
(In the Shadow of The Big Chicken! )
To: higgmeister
Without any maintenance equipment
8
posted on
12/10/2023 4:48:53 PM PST
by
higgmeister
(In the Shadow of The Big Chicken! )
To: Tijeras_Slim
Yes. Very dangerous stuff.
9
posted on
12/10/2023 4:50:39 PM PST
by
SaveFerris
(Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
To: Roman_War_Criminal
The drone, which flies without anyone on board,Does no one edit anymore?
To: higgmeister
There are a lot of hazards in portals/wormholes.
Oops—don’t tell anybody.
;-)
11
posted on
12/10/2023 4:50:50 PM PST
by
cgbg
("Our democracy" = Obey or get canceled.)
To: Roman_War_Criminal
"What exactly does it do in space? "
12
posted on
12/10/2023 4:51:06 PM PST
by
clearcarbon
(Fraudulent elections have consequences.)
To: Tijeras_Slim
But wait, I seem to remember that they never do anything these days with a spotter. so that knocks it down to two guys. I see one messing with something on the spacecraft and one could be a crew chief so I guess there could be extra bodies standing there.
13
posted on
12/10/2023 4:52:14 PM PST
by
higgmeister
(In the Shadow of The Big Chicken! )
To: Roman_War_Criminal
14
posted on
12/10/2023 4:56:37 PM PST
by
devane617
(Discipline Is Reliable, Motivation Is Fleeting..)
To: higgmeister
Another example of life imitating Star Trek, see: episode “Assignment: Earth” with Robert Lansing and Teri Garr.
Hint: The suites are worn for raisin-active protection.
15
posted on
12/10/2023 5:01:12 PM PST
by
JJBookman
(Democrats = Party on the eve of destruction)
To: higgmeister
They are re-fueling and checking the thruster systems on the spacecraft.
It’s probably hypergolic propellant (propellants that ignite on contact with each other). Hypergolic propellants are actually very toxic and can be harmful if inhaled by humans, hence the respirators and other breathing apparatuses being utilized by the crew.
.
16
posted on
12/10/2023 5:03:40 PM PST
by
TLI
(ITINERIS IMPENDEO VALHALLA)
To: higgmeister
“What would be so harmful to have four men suited up like that?”
The residual fuel on board.
17
posted on
12/10/2023 5:28:22 PM PST
by
2CAVTrooper
( is the sure possession of those alone who have the courage to defend it.)
To: higgmeister
When these type of spacecraft land there are still noxious gasses around. The same was the case with the Shuttle.
18
posted on
12/10/2023 5:33:52 PM PST
by
Shady
(The Force of Liberty must prevail for the sake of our Children and Grandchildren...)
To: Roman_War_Criminal
It doesn’t have to be very big if it isn’t carrying human beings. The Reptilians don’t need that much space.
To: higgmeister
“What would be so harmful to have four men suited up like that?”
Probably hydrazine which is fuel for thrusters.
20
posted on
12/10/2023 6:01:58 PM PST
by
cpdiii
(cane cutter-deckhand-oilfield roughneck-drilling fluiids tech-geologist-pilot-instructor-pharmacist)
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