Posted on 04/20/2010 10:58:34 PM PDT by smokingfrog
The Air Force quietly prepares to launch the X-37B, an unmanned shuttle into space on April 22, just days after the Discovery shuttle returns to earth.
Developed by the Air Force for nearly a decade, the X-37B's scheduled launch coincides with a wind down in shuttle operations by NASA. The Air Force has been practicing test landings with a prototype of the X-37B at an undisclosed location for years.
The Air Force spacecraft's launch has been delayed several times, and was most recently postponed to accommodate Discovery's return.
The X-37B will stay in orbit for up to nine months and will be launched from the nose of a Atlas 5 rocket on Thursday from Cape Canaveral. The aircraft's stated mission is to examine safer and less costly re-entry possibilities.
There is speculation among military and security insiders that the X-37B will be used to position satellites and other types of surveillance.
NASA may end up using the craft later on when we get a new POTUS.
Nah no comparison.
That thing is just an expensive joyride, that’s all.
bump
Called 'Rods from God'.
Unmanned?
Then, put Obama in it and give him something useful to do.
It’ll still be unmanned.
I heard a blip on the radio a few days ago where discussion deployment of a new non-nuclear weapons platform is supposedly being initiated in 2018 by the US Military. Although they didn't elaborate as to exactly what this weapons platform would be they did say that it would make nukes all but unnecessary. My first thought was "Rods from God", but I've heard nothing about any deployment of any such weapons system in that time frame. Any ideas as to what this new system might be?
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