Posted on 07/29/2019 8:40:53 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
The Air Force's top-secret X-37B Space Plane that appears to be the prototype for the world’s first stealth outer spacefighter just set a new record of 700-days in orbit.
The X-37 is called the “mini-shuttle” because it is about 29 feet long, has a 15-foot wingspan, weighs just 11,000 pounds and there have been five Earth orbit missions since 1999 at altitudes between 200 and 250 miles. The current two reusable X-37B’s look like scale-models military “spacefighter,” but are officially designated as robotic “temporary satellites” to avoid violating the Outer Space Treaty that forbids weapons platforms at altitudes over 62 miles above the Earth.
Formally titled ‘Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies’, the United Nations agreement prohibits nuclear weapons in space, all celestial bodies be limited to peaceful purposes, and no nation can claim sovereignty over anything in space.
The treaty became effective in October 1967 with the signatures of the United States, Soviet Union and United Kingdom. Subsequently 106 other nations signed, including Taiwan that ratified the treaty in 1969. When the U.N. transferred the “China” seat to the People's Republic of China in 1971, Taiwan’s signature for “China” was also officially transferred. But the PRC has never actually signed the Outer Space Treaty.
The current X-37B mission began atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that lifted off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sept. 7, 2017. But despite a sophisticated global network of academic and amateur astronomers scanning the heavens, only one photograph was snapped of a stealthy X-37B in space.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
Remind me of the Jose Jimenez bit where he is a submarine who has spent a record number of days submerged.
Ping!
USAF/X-37 Ping.
Spying on Chinese & Russian satellites..?
Oh, and those of North Korea.
The thought kinda crossed my mind before I read your post: They’re gonna leave it up there, then fart around and wait too long to bring it back, and it’ll get stuck. AAA doesn’t provide orbital tow trucks for roadside assistance up there.
I really don’t think “they” are stupid.
“They” (US Air Force) actually know what “they’re” doing.
It’s nice that they use JP-8, the standard military fuel.
I wonder how many of these a SpaceX Super Heavy will be able to lift?
The ultimate drone? If I could get an increase in the retirement check I’d buy one or two...
“The Air Force’s top-secret X-37B Space Plane”
You don’t say?
Is it the best known top-secret space plane in the world?
I think it is stuck up there and the Air Force does not want to tell us : )
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