Smaller, Quicker, Secret, Robotic: Inside America’s New Space Force

I was browsing the Wired pages today, and found this article;
www.wired.com...

It goes into detail about the recent and current efforts in satellite technology, and mentions the X-37b, the new reusable mini-Shuttle.

Tiny satellites, including relays, orbital cameras and other sensors, aren’t the only “faster-better-cheaper” tech transforming the American space force. So-called “pseudolites” — that is, relatively inexpensive robots, planes and airships operating in the very-high-but-not-quite-orbit upper atmosphere — are rapidly proliferating and taking the place of some old-school satellites. The “smaller-is-better” space revolution wasn’t inevitable. It resulted from a complex interplay of politics and economics, plus a chain of engineering crises that claimed some careers and even a few lives. What follows is a brief recent history of America’s space force from the end of the Cold War to today, with a glimpse into the future as old spacecraft waste away and smaller, quicker, cheaper and more robotic systems take their place.

I found it a very interesting read, what do you think?

reply to post by royspeed


Read the first 2 pages...I'll check the rest out later on tonight but a good read so far.

thanks for posting.