US Airforce robotic spaceplane continue to operate in orbit

[In2HiDef]

http://i.space.com/images/X37b-spaceplane-100416-02.jpg

A U.S. Air Force robotic space plane (http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20101123/sc_space/secretiveairforcex37broboticspaceplanemaybenearing missionsend#) continues to maneuver in Earth orbit, according to the latest observations from skywatchers. The reusable space drone has been carrying out tasks using a suite of classified sensors and may be nearing its mission's end, according to comments from Air Force officials.
The spacecraft is the Air Force's X-37B space plane (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/space/sc_space/storytext/secretiveairforcex37broboticspaceplanemaybenearing missionsend/38700476/SIG=1276t0b7f/*http://www.space.com/php/multimedia/imagegallery/igviewer.php?gid=396), also known as the Orbital Test Vehicle 1, which launched on its maiden flight on April 22 atop an Atlas 5 rocket.
The winged orbiter's mission has been shrouded in secrecy, but Air Force officials have said it was built for 270-day spaceflights, suggesting that it may be in the flight homestretch and preparing to make an atmospheric re-entry and landing – all on autopilot. [Video of the X-37B in space (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/space/sc_space/storytext/secretiveairforcex37broboticspaceplanemaybenearing missionsend/38700476/SIG=12bks8t4g/*http://www.space.com/common/media/video/player.php?videoRef=SP_100522_X37)]
Official details regarding the space plane's whereabouts, its classified payload and projected landing date are scarce — more mum than informative.
"Nothing new," said U.S. Air Force Major, Tracy Bunko, a spokeswoman for the mission at the Pentagon's Air Force press desk.
"The first flight of the X-37B/OTV-1 is ongoing and continues to focus on checking out the on-orbit performance of the vehicle and proving the technologies required for long-duration, re-usable space vehicles with autonomous re-entry and landing capabilities," Bunko told SPACE.com.
Bunko said that after the X-37B test objectives are satisfied, "we look forward to a successful re-entry and recovery at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California."
No landing date has been scheduled, she added.
This SPACE.com X-37B graphic (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/space/sc_space/storytext/secretiveairforcex37broboticspaceplanemaybenearing missionsend/38700476/SIG=15rum7omh/*http://www.space.com/php/multimedia/imagedisplay/img_display.php?pic=X37b-spaceplane-100416-02.jpg&cap=Diagram+of+the+U.S.+Air+Force%27s+X-37B+Orbital+Test+Vehicle.+Graphic+by+Karl+Tate) illustrates some details of the space plane, its solar array power plant, and its relative size.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20101123/sc_space/secretiveairforcex37broboticspaceplanemaybenearing missionsend

[In2HiDef]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2112146/Mystery-U-S-X-37B-space-plane-orbit-year.html


Revealed: How America's secret space plane has been in orbit for over a year - and no one knows what it's doing



The X-37B has been circling the Earth at 17,000mph and was due to land in California in December


By Ted Thornhill (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=&authornamef=Ted+Thornhill)
UPDATED: 13:36 EST, 8 March 2012


The U.S Air Force’s highly secret unmanned space plane was supposed to stay in space for nine months, but it’s now been there for a year and three days – and no one knows what it’s doing.
The experimental craft has been circling Earth at 17,000 miles per hour and was due to land in California in December.
However the mission of the X-37B orbital test vehicle was extended – for unknown reasons.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/12/04/article-2069815-0F0CE2C100000578-336_634x399.jpg Mystery tour: The mission of the X-37B space plane was extended after it spent nine months orbiting the Earth


The plane resembles a mini space shuttle and is the second to fly in space.
The first one landed last December at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California after more than seven months in orbit.
The 29-foot, solar-powered craft had an original mission of 270 days.
The Air Force said the second mission was to further test the technology but the ultimate purpose has largely remained a mystery.
The vehicle's systems program director, Lieutenant-colonel Tom McIntyre, told the Los Angeles Times in December: 'We initially planned for a nine-month mission. Keeping the X-37 in orbit will provide us with additional experimentation opportunities and allow us to extract the maximum value out of the mission.'

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/12/04/article-2069815-0F0CE23400000578-573_634x414.jpg Questions: The unmanned space plane is the second of its kind to be sent up by the U.S. Air Force - but its purpose has never fully been explained


http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/12/04/article-2069815-0F0CE31000000578-307_634x419.jpg Finishing touches: Scientists in protective suits inspect the solar-powered craft prior to its mission

However, many sceptics think that the vehicle's mission is defence or spy-related.
There are rumours circulating that the craft has been kept in space to spy on the new Chinese space station, Tiangong.
However, analysts have pointed out that surveillance would be tricky, since the spacecraft would rush past each other at thousands of metres per second.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/12/04/article-2069815-0F0CE2D400000578-278_634x391.jpg Preparing for lift off: The Air Force said the craft is being used to test space technology but there have been suggestions it is being used to spy


http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/12/04/article-2069815-0F0CE20400000578-787_634x387.jpg Keeping watch: An artist's rendition of the X-37B shuttle orbiting the Earth
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/04/22/article-1268138-09416059000005DC-90_634x702.jpg


And Brian Weeden, from the Secure World Foundation, pointed out to the BBC: ‘If the U.S. really wanted to observe Tiangong, it has enough assets to do that without using X-37B.’
Last May, amateur astronomers were able to detect the orbital pattern of the first X-37B which included flyovers of North Korea, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan, heightening the suspicion that the vehicle was being used for surveillance.
Other industry analysts have speculated that the Air Force is just making use of the X-37B’s amazing fuel efficiency and keeping it in space for as long as possible to show off its credentials and protect it from budget cuts.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/04/23/article-1268138-0944FC14000005DC-774_634x341.jpg (http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/04/23/article-1268138-0944FC14000005DC-774_634x341_popup.jpg)

This undated image released by the U.S. Air Force shows the X-37B spacecraft. Its mission and cost are shrouded in secrecy
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/04/23/article-1268138-09429BF1000005DC-276_634x646.jpg

Lift off: The X-37B sits on top of an Atlas V rocket as it's launched at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/04/22/article-1268138-09415FF1000005DC-746_634x355.jpg Ready for launch: The X-37B rocket in Florida before it blasted off into space
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/04/22/article-1268138-0940360B000005DC-945_634x417.jpg
Mystery: Scientists work on a prototype for the rocket prior to its launch
After all, under budget cuts for 2013 to 2017 proposed by the Obama administration, the office that developed the X-37 will be shut down.


According to X-37B manufacturer Boeing, the space plane operates in low-earth orbit, between 110 and 500 miles above earth. By comparison, the International Space Station orbits at about 220 miles.

The current flight launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, in March.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/04/23/article-1268138-0940381F000005DC-830_634x413.jpg (http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/04/23/article-1268138-0940381F000005DC-830_634x413_popup.jpg)

This computer image shows the space plane re-entering Earth. Although it resembles a small space shuttle it is not designed to carry humans. It's wingspan is a mere 4.5m with a length of 8.9m. It is powered by batteries and solar cells

[смешно]

респект.

[bdams]

Гордится конечно есть чем, хотя Буран летал таким образом уже очень давно. Беспокоит не это. Беспокоит явная милитаризация космоса. Думаете вы там долго останетесь одни?

[Бугор]

Гордится конечно есть чем, хотя Буран летал таким образом уже очень давно. Беспокоит не это. Беспокоит явная милитаризация космоса. Думаете вы там долго останетесь одни?

Буран в какой стране построен? хотя да, есть чем гордиться.
Он, буран, скоро снова полетит?

[Astrix]

ведро с гвоздями

[Бугор]

ведро с гвоздями

просто ведро :rofl:

[смешно]

Гордится конечно есть чем, хотя Буран летал таким образом уже очень давно. Беспокоит не это. Беспокоит явная милитаризация космоса. Думаете вы там долго останетесь одни?

если говорить о "милитаризации" и освоение космоса в целом, то мы (земляне) ещё в зачаточном состоянии.

[In2HiDef]

Беспокоит явная милитаризация космоса. Думаете вы там долго останетесь одни?
Нам с китайцами будет там вас не хватать. Хотя, когда еще Китай спиратит эту машину -подождут, пока мы доведем ее механизмы и тактику боевого применения до совершенства.

[смешно]

Китай вообще не спешит с освоением космоса, они пока Землю осваивают.

[In2HiDef]

Китай вообще не спешит с освоением космоса, они пока Землю осваивают.
Сибирь велика.

[Бугор]

Сибирь велика.

а китайцев много