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US Air Force's Mysterious X-37B Space Plane Passes 500 Days in Orbit
Space.com ^ | Aril 24, 2014 | Mike Wall, Senior Writer

Posted on 04/24/2014 9:19:06 AM PDT by lbryce

An unmanned military space plane has achieved a major longevity milestone, zipping around Earth for 500 days on a clandestine mission for the United States government.

The U.S. Air Force's X-37B space plane launched on its third and latest mission on Dec. 11, 2012. As of today (April 24), the vehicle has been aloft for 500 days — far longer than its officially stated maximum orbital lifetime of 270 days.

"Clearly, and understandably, the Air Force initially set the expected parameters [of the X-37B] conservatively, not really knowing what it could do until it was tested — which is what they are doing now," said Joan Johnson-Freese, professor of national security affairs at the Naval War College in Newport, R.I. [Photos: The X-37B Space Plane's 3rd Mystery Mission]

"Personally, I think it's commendable that they are pushing it to the extent that they appear to be," Johnson-Freese told Space.com via email. "That's the only way to really know what it can do."

(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 201212; 20121211; boeing; darpa; dod; drone; nasa; secretmission; spaceexploration; wtfisit; x37b
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To: pfflier

I hate the limitation of chemical fuels, but nuclear ones tend to leave a blasted radioactive wasteland of the launch site. I like the Larry Niven solution: air compressed almost to neutron degeneracy. Is that possible? Not now, maybe later.


41 posted on 04/24/2014 12:03:22 PM PDT by Telepathic Intruder (The only thing the Left has learned from the failures of socialism is not to call it that)
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To: corkoman

US Air Force’s Mysterious X-37B Space Plane Passes 500 Days in Orbit


It’s stuck in orbit.


42 posted on 04/24/2014 12:59:09 PM PDT by minnesota_bound
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To: aegiscg47

Ooh, interesting idea. It’s big enough to hold a rail gun and some tungsten projectiles...


43 posted on 04/24/2014 1:06:05 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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from the wiki-wacky:
The OTV-1 X-37B in April 2010, inside its payload fairing prior to launch

Boeing X-37

44 posted on 04/24/2014 1:08:50 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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Phil Silvers, agent X-27

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvbg_ezlEks


45 posted on 04/24/2014 1:10:59 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (He'd really fit in around here in some topics.)
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To: Telepathic Intruder

Where enough energy is available, cheaply — such as in space — it might work, but obviously, that doesn’t get it off the ground.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degenerate_matter


46 posted on 04/24/2014 1:16:21 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: SunkenCiv

I tend to like fermions more than bosons. But then I think “where would I be without bosons”? I can’t decide.


47 posted on 04/24/2014 1:22:24 PM PDT by Telepathic Intruder (The only thing the Left has learned from the failures of socialism is not to call it that)
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To: Telepathic Intruder

Cap’t Kirk probably said the same thing. In fact, pretty much any captain.


48 posted on 04/24/2014 3:05:28 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: SunkenCiv
Well here's one fermion he learned to avoid. The hard way and a little too late.


49 posted on 04/24/2014 5:48:12 PM PDT by Telepathic Intruder (The only thing the Left has learned from the failures of socialism is not to call it that)
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To: lbryce

“What do you mean, you forgot to load the return to earth program.”


50 posted on 04/24/2014 5:55:37 PM PDT by Nachoman (Wisdom is learned, cynicism is earned.)
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To: FreedomOfExpression
The X37B is unmanned

Are the stewardesses all female then? I'm not sure, but that would seem sexist to me...
51 posted on 04/24/2014 5:56:55 PM PDT by Delta Dawn (Fluent in two languages: English and cursive.)
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To: Delta Dawn

Hey, I don’t make the rules, but I do like them sometimes.


52 posted on 04/24/2014 9:57:23 PM PDT by FreedomOfExpression
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To: tet68

Its in the article.


53 posted on 04/25/2014 1:43:06 PM PDT by Jacquerie (Article V.)
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To: Jacquerie

I was just trying to come up with some reason for
the long flight, it is curious.


54 posted on 04/25/2014 2:12:02 PM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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