Air Force's Secretive X-37B Space Plane

mlurp · #1 (**permalink**) 06-14-2012, 10:21 AM

I thought something on this was already posted but after 5 pages in the History/Military topic area and a search which I gave up after 4 pages..

I will post it fresh. Any thoughts on this?

Quote:

.Air Force's Secretive X-37B Space Plane May Land Friday

By Tariq Malik | SPACE.com – 12 hrs ago. 14 June 2012 ................

The U.S. Air Force is standing ready for this week's much anticipated return to Earth of a robotic space plane that has spent more than a year in orbit on a secret mission.

Air Force officials say landing day for the unmanned X-37B space plane is imminent, and could occur on Friday (June 15). But weather conditions at its intended landing site at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, as well as other factors, will determine when the spacecraft's will ultimately land.

"Team Vandenberg is prepared to safely receive the X-37B at a moment's notice," Air Force Lt. Austin Fallin told SPACE.com in an email this week. "Exact landing date and time depend on weather and technical considerations."

The X-37B spacecraft's landing window opened on June 11 and runs through June 18, with Friday being the next opportunity, Fallin said. The exact nature of the space plane's mission is classified, so aside from a brief May 30 statement announcing the upcoming landing in the mid-June timeframe, Air Force officials have remained mum on re-entry details. [Photos: Air Force's 2nd Secret X-37B Mission]

"More information will be released as it becomes available," Fallin said.

The X-37B space plane set to land this week is known as the Orbital Test Vehicle 2 (OTV-2) and looks much like a smaller version of NASA's reusable space shuttles. Unlike NASA's shuttles, the OTV-2 is completely unmanned and is powered by a solar panel that allows it to stay in orbit for months at a time

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The first X-37B space plane, OTV-1, launched in 2010 and spent 225 days in space. This OTV-2 mission has more than doubled the duration of that debut flight. Air Force officials have said they intend to launch the OTV-1 vehicle on another test flight soon, possibly as soon as this fall.

You can follow SPACE.com Managing Editor Tariq Malik on Twitter @tariqjmalik. Follow SPACE.com on Twitter @Spacedotcom. We're also on Facebookand Google+.

LINKS at this site.
•Photos: X-37B Space Plane - The Orbital Test Vehicle
•Top 10 Space Weapons
•Secretive Space Plane: Meet the X-37B | Video

Air Force's Secretive X-37B Space Plane May Land Friday - Yahoo! News

125 comments.

MrLiberty · #2 (**permalink**) 06-15-2012, 06:56 AM

I think the government was testing a new more powerful camera and were taking photos of North Korea, Iran, and Syria, with the possibility of Russia and China as well.

Just my two cents worth........

mlurp · #3 (**permalink**) 06-15-2012, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrLiberty

I think the government was testing a new more powerful camera and were taking photos of North Korea, Iran, and Syria, with the possibility of Russia and China as well.

Just my two cents worth........

And a very good 2 cents well spent. Cause that and other things we are not aware of yet are in the making.

These will become DRONES in Space. IMHO

And platforms for many other black projects.

MrLiberty · #4 (**permalink**) 06-16-2012, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlurp

And a very good 2 cents well spent. Cause that and other things we are not aware of yet are in the making.

These will become DRONES in Space. IMHO

And platforms for many other black projects.

Agreed.....

Mikeyy · #5 (**permalink**) 06-16-2012, 11:48 AM

Thanks for letting the cat out of the bag. There went the big secret. You two couldn't keep your mouths shut and now everyone knows. Geeeez

mlurp · #6 (**permalink**) 06-16-2012, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikeyy

Thanks for letting the cat out of the bag. There went the big secret. You two couldn't keep your mouths shut and now everyone knows. Geeeez

No idiot you mean the W.H. does the leaks. This was in the news.

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