X37-B: 631 days in orbit and counting... Wow!

This is *very* cool.

US Air Force's Secretive X-37B

Any thoughts or idle speculation from some of our knowledgeable members on the nature of this long secret mission?

The fact that we can launch, operate it for years and then land and relaunch if necessary makes for some interesting possible scenarios. Wonder if it also has a mini grappling arm like the shuttle? The fact that we can land this puppy not only saves $$, but allows us to bring "things" back from space.

Interesting, to say the least...

a reply to: Riffrafter

simply answer
it's spying


its a mini shuttle...
with no astronuts to keep hush

I always pictured this type of mission, to be secretly docking with other countries spy satellites and taking whatever information is needed. It would make perfect sense to have the capablity to spy on spying satellites

originally posted by: spoonbender
a reply to: Riffrafter

simply answer
it's spying

That is too simple an answer.

They can spy with satellites.

One should ask this:

"what can only be done in space AND need to be returned to earth in a controlled descend to be of value to the air force?"

Simply spying does not seem to fit the bill, for both audio and video can be wirelessy transferred to earth. I imagine that you would only use a shuttle-like solution if you really had to.

originally posted by: Riffrafter
This is *very* cool.

US Air Force's Secretive X-37B

Any thoughts or idle speculation from some of our knowledgeable members on the nature of this long secret mission?

As mentioned possibly for spy missions or its watching Celestial objects (STAR or Asteroid-Comet) activities that could cause changes here on EA*RTH...

It's developing new technologies that will revolutionize several fields, including astronomy.

Since we're all just speculating, I'm thinking this thing is providing some strategic weapons capability, whether it's loaded with anti-missile ordinance, or acting as a first or last strike weapons package. I'd be surprised if it's anything as benign as spying.

Wild speculation of course on my part.
Russia has one, and so does China.
Some of you may recall a group of UFO sightings
a couple of years ago. These involved what was
the bow shock of each of these craft
as they were illuminated by the Sun.
This happened in each of the respected countries.
One after another, all within 6 months of one another.
Now Imagine an orbiter you can pull up along side
another satellite with and manipulate whatever you like.
Push it slightly off its path, pull a few solar panels apart, etc.
and that's just the manhandling capabilities .
Ah, Speculation ..

a reply to: Orwells Ghost

Oh crap! We were supposed to speculate? Dammit!

In that case it's developing an antigravity drive in orbit!

originally posted by: UnderKingsPeak
Wild speculation of course on my part.
Russia has one, and so does China.
Some of you may recall a group of UFO sightings
a couple of years ago. These involved what was
the bow shock of each of these craft
as they were illuminated by the Sun.
This happened in each of the respected countries.
One after another, all within 6 months of one another.
Now Imagine an orbiter you can pull up along side
another satellite with and manipulate whatever you like.
Push it slightly off its path, pull a few solar panels apart, etc.
and that's just the manhandling capabilities .
Ah, Speculation ..

ACtually... thats not speculation. It can be used to destroy satellites OR feed the satellite disinformation directly if needed. we could also tap into their information networks and see what they see or even make them target themselves.

well if you think how big a satellite is in compassion, thats A LOT of electronics goodies you can get in that X-37B, it could be up to anything.

probably spying but it could be weather monitoring, both probably, maybe its just scooping up military satellites and such. who knows!

Good question, I'd love to know what it's doing up there myself.

Regardless, kudos. That's quite a long time to be orbiting. Do they have a projected time of retrieval or is that classified too?

maybe they just did a test flight and just lost control of it and wont admit it

a reply to: yuppa
Awesome !
But you said it not me.

It wouldn't be messing around/docking/manipulating other satellites -- as other countries monitor and can visually "SEE" their own orbiting craft from Earth.

No, it's also not a weapon platform due treaties in place that bar the armament of space.

It could be testing the durability of new materials to see how they hold up in LEO. Think about this -- humans can only stay in orbit for so long before they have to come down. This orbiter can stay aloft far longer. It's much cheaper to operate than to staff a crew when doing experiments up there.

a reply to: Zaphod58

I was leaning more towards Tesla Gun/Particle Beam/Death Ray, but now that you mention it, I think the addition of anti-grav makes perfect sense! Imagine: a giant honkin' gamma ray laser un-affected by the constraints of orbital mechanics. Big win!

Has anyone been able to track this thing? Who's to say it is still in LEO?

2nd

originally posted by: MrAoxx
Has anyone been able to track this thing? Who's to say it is still in LEO?

2nd

I dont know, 600 days for somthing that big and not get blasted by all that junk floating around or those tiny super fast micro meteors, i suppose it doesnt need a cabin or air so maybe it has been pummeled a bit.

a reply to: MrAoxx

I haven't tracked it, but I've read that some people have have. If it can be tracked, it can be seen. That throws out the theory that it's scooting over the other satellites and docking/messing with them.

Also, as I said -- weapons in space are forbidden after the nuclear test ban treaty. No one is "supposed" to have anything weaponized up there. Besides, what good would an orbital weapon be if you can track it?

It's a lot more "cool" to imagine these theories, but logically they just don't make sense.

a reply to: MrAoxx

A lot of satellites are visible to the naked eye from the ground. If you look up at the night sky you can see numerous each hour whizzing past.

Using the website www.heavens-above.com... you can find out when they fly over your hometown. The X37-B is listed as well.