Posted on 04/25/2015 6:14:55 AM PDT by BenLurkin
"The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) and the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office (AFRCO) are investigating an experimental propulsion system on the X-37B on Mission 4," Capt. Chris Hoyler, an Air Force spokesman, told Space.com via email.
"AFRCO will also host a number of advance materials onboard the X-37B for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to study the durability of various materials in the space environment," Hoyler added
...
The Air Force owns two X-37B space planes, both of which were built by Boeing's Phantom Works division. The solar-powered spacecraft are about 29 feet long by 9.5 feet tall (8.8 by 2.9 meters), with a wingspan of 15 feet (4.6 m) and a payload bay the size of a pickup-truck bed. The X-37B launches vertically atop a rocket and lands horizontally on a runway, like the space shuttle did.
...
"The primary objectives of the X-37B are twofold: reusable spacecraft technologies for America's future in space, and operating experiments which can be returned to, and examined, on Earth," Air Force officials wrote in on online X-37B fact sheet. "Technologies being tested in the program include advanced guidance, navigation and control; thermal protection systems; avionics; high-temperature structures and seals; conformal reusable insulation, lightweight electromechanical flight systems; and autonomous orbital flight, re-entry and landing."
(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...
so close ... no matter how far. Forever ... Trusting AF in whom you are. Fly high ... Stand-by ... Prepare the fleet!
it doesn’t exist .... lol .... and it’s top secret ... LOL
fooled the chinese with a hologram ... wonderous what holograms are capable of.
X-37B ping
Figuring out protocols for steathily approaching and spying on enemy satelites, figuring out their tasking, capabilities and objectives.
Parasitically gleaning their feeds and exploring how to spoof them.
Also paracticing methods of eluding detection.
Those aremy guesses.
Long ago aircraft were first strictly recon platforms.
Later aircraft engaged other aircraft.
So begins the shift in space with satelites.
Thanks for the ping. This says the X-37B is solar powered, but I doubt it.
Be nice to know what this thing looks like without messing around with a bunch of links.
Hydrazine-fueled rocket engine.
It does have solar panels and batteries.
Thanks for your replies.
Transfering people and cargo to and from Culture ships ...
Probably just another tool to spy on us.
and if hitlary becomes president the chinese will have it soon.
prove me wrong.
Several years ago NASA sponsored a mostly theoretical “Breakthrough Propulsion “ program. Not sure what ever became of it.
You got me there. No way I could disprove any of that.
By the way, a lot of people don’t know this so keep it under your hat: the vehicle is piloted by a small dinosaur. USAF found it during a time travel mishap and were surprised to find it is smarter than a chimpanzee.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.