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Post by justjohn on Apr 30, 2010 3:21:10 GMT -7
  Top secret space plane has America’s enemies scared X-37B top secret space planeIs it a ‘space bomber’? That’s what the Iranians are asking - and they have every reason to be spooked By Tim Edwards A top secret robotic space plane has blasted off from Cape Canaveral, and the involvement of a US military agency in the project has Iran - and maybe China - worried about the possibilities of what could be a prototype 'space bomber'. Officially, the X-37B (above) is on a test flight to evaluate the vehicle's Performance. But the space plane's pedigree as an offshoot of the shuttle programme has led some to suggest it could eventually conduct espionage missions in orbit - and is another step on the road to the "weaponisation of space". The X-37 project was begun in 1999 by Nasa and built by Boeing's evocatively titled Phantom Works division. It was envisaged as a 'lifeboat' for the International Space Station. But in 2004 Nasa ditched it and development was taken over by the secretive Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which has the stated aim of "maintaining technological superiority of the US military and preventing technological surprise". Now in the hands of the US Air Force, the X-37B finally piggybacked into orbit aboard an Atlas V rocket yesterday, two years late. Gary Payton, the US Air Force's deputy under-secretary for space programmes said the mission's top priorities were "getting into orbit, getting the payload bay doors open, the solar array deployed, learning about on-orbit attitude control and bringing it all back". The length of the mission is unknown, but the X-37B, which looks like a cross between a space shuttle and a cruise missile, can stay in orbit for up to 270 days. When it returns, it will autonomously navigate its way back to land at the Vandenberg Air Force base in California - the first robotic re-entry in the history of the US space programme. America's enemies are watching closely. Iran's government mouthpiece, Press TV, has dubbed the X-37B a "secret space warplane" and a "first generation of US 'space Predator drones'" in a reference to the automated fighter planes the US military uses in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The truth is, according to Rick Fisher, senior fellow at the International Assessment and Strategy Center, the US already has a 'space bomber': it's called the space shuttle and it's about to be retired. "For the US it is very fortunate that this long overdue program reaches its testing point the year the space shuttle retires," says Fisher. "The X-37B, like the space shuttle before it, provides a much-needed commodity in the dangerous uncertainty of space: deterrence." Fisher explains that in the 1970s Moscow viewed the US shuttle as a 'space bomber' aimed at them. As a result, the Russians proceeded to launch a series of space combat programs that would have given them military space dominance in the 1990s had the Soviet Union not fallen. Documents declassified by Moscow show that the now-defunct MIR space station was intended as a base for up to four Soviet wingless space shuttle bombers. It has been suggested that the space shuttle's large, heat-shielded wings were proof that the vehicle had dual-use military capabilities.  The Shenlong test vehicle - a Chinese 'space bomber'? Read more: www.thefirstpost.co.uk/62593%2Cnews-comment%2Cnews-politics%2Ctop-secret-space-bomber-has-america-enemies-scared-china-shenlong-x-37b?DCMP=NLC-daily#ixzz0mZrHxyYy
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Post by sciwriter on Apr 30, 2010 8:33:23 GMT -7
The USA space plane & Israeli pilotless drone bombers should frighten our enemies.
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Post by Eric on Apr 30, 2010 10:18:33 GMT -7
Deploying weapons in outer space is prohibited by international treaty, which the U.S. is a signatory of. But, of course, it's not like the U.S. has a reliable record of obeying the treaties it signs. If the U.S. doesn't like a treaty anymore, it just unilaterally pulls out of it.
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Post by sciwriter on Apr 30, 2010 11:05:18 GMT -7
Eric, I don't believe in treaties, e.g., Kellog- Briand pact (1928) & Soviet Union-Nazi Germany non-aggression pact (1939).Carl
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Post by karl on Apr 30, 2010 14:38:28 GMT -7
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Post by sciwriter on May 4, 2010 9:35:58 GMT -7
Karl, I'm adding the flying disc (so-called UFO) using Tesla propulsion and started by Germany in World War II. Thanks. Carl
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Post by karl on May 4, 2010 10:08:44 GMT -7
Karl, I'm adding the flying disc (so-called UFO) using Tesla propulsion and started by Germany in World War II. Thanks. Carl Carl Thank you, for I do understand For my self, a general rule used is to stay away from the subjects of research and products developed by our former government. For many were to become very dangerous and useful weapons responsible for the death of many allied military personnel. The use of Tesla propulsion units are and were very useful in design and development short cuts Unfortunately, these were of purpose as weapons. In also of the designs of Herr Dr. Lippisch with his aerial designs of low drag, high performance aircraft. These used at present with the semi tailless designs of low frequency radar reflection. tiny.cc/rf1fdBut, I think perhaps your interest is in Field propulsion. webfairy.org/missilegate/rfz/vril.htmPlease to have in mindset of the above, as what is to be and yet not in actual. www.greyfalcon.us/restored/AN%20INVENTORY%20OF%20NAZI%20SECRET%20WEAPONS.htmKarl |
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Post by justjohn on May 24, 2010 3:27:47 GMT -7
 Launch of secret US space ship masks even more secret launch of new weapon Michael Evans, Pentagon Correspondent Somewhere above earth is America’s latest spaceship, a 30ft craft so classified that the Pentagon will not divulge its mission nor how much it cost to build. The mysterious X37B, launched successfully by the US Air Force from Cape Canaveral on Thursday, using an Atlas V rocket, looks like a mini-Space Shuttle — but its mission is top secret. It is officially described as an orbital test vehicle. However, one of its potential uses appears to be to launch a surge of small satellites during periods of high international tension. This would enable America to have eyes and ears orbiting above any potential troublespot in the world. The X37B can stay in orbit for up to 270 days, whereas the Shuttle can last only 16 days. This will provide the US with the ability to carry out experiments for long periods, including the testing of new laser weapon systems. This would bring accusations that the launch of X37B, and a second vehicle planned for later this year, could lead to the militarisation of space. US defence officials, who would not say how much the project had cost, insisted, however, that it was “just an updated version of the Space Shuttle activities”. Thursday’s launch was more about testing the craft, a new generation of silica tile and a wealth of other advances that make the Shuttle look like yesterday’s space technology. Nasa’s X37B programme began in 1999 and ran until September 2004 when it was transferred to the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency before being taken over by the US Air Force. The flight of the X37B is being managed by the US Air Force Space Command’s 3rd Space Experimental Squadron. “This bird has been through all of the shake, rattle and roll, the vibration tests, the acoustic tests that any spacecraft would go through,” said Gary Payton, Under Secretary of the Air Force for Space Programmes. With all the focus on the launch of the secret X37B, another space launch by a Minotaur IV rocket from Vandenberg Air Force base in California received less attention. It was carrying the prototype of a new weapon that can hit any target around the world in less than an hour. The Prompt Global Strike is designed as the conventional weapon of the future. It could hit Osama bin Laden’s cave, an Iranian nuclear site or a North Korean missile with a huge conventional warhead.
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Post by karl on May 24, 2010 7:26:43 GMT -7
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Post by sciwriter on May 24, 2010 10:34:41 GMT -7
Guys, Thanks for the info. & links. Carl
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Post by justjohn on May 25, 2010 3:25:26 GMT -7
Amateur sky watchers 'solve mystery of unmanned US space plane'
A secret, unmanned US space plane has been sent into orbit to develop a new type of spy satellite, according to a group of amateur sky watchers who have managed to track its first mission.
By Tom Leonard in New York
Published: 6:18PM BST 23 May 2010
The Boeing-built X-37B, the robotic successor to the space shuttle, took off from Florida last month tucked inside the nose cone of an Atlas rocket.
The US Air Force's 29-ft long craft, known as the Orbital Test Vehicle, looks similar to the shuttle, but is about a quarter the size.
By deploying solar panels in space, it can stay in orbit for nine months before automatically landing itself back on Earth.
The US military refused to give any details about what it would be doing for all that time and was so secretive about the mission that it even refused to disclose the whereabouts of the upper stage of the launch rocket.
The extreme secrecy prompted speculation that the X-37B's main purpose would be as a launch pad for a new generation of space weapons.
However, an international group of space observers that claims it has been able to track the spaceship has given credence to a rival theory that the craft is instead testing sensors for powerful new spy satellites.
Ted Molczan, a space observer from Toronto, told The New York Times that the X-37B was passing over the same region on Earth every four days, which he said was the usual behaviour of American imaging satellites.
Its trajectory has been taking it over various regions where the US military has interests, including Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan and North Korea.
They said the craft was about 255 miles up and orbiting the planet around every 90 minutes.
On a clear night, it can be seen moving like a bright star across the sky.
Senior Pentagon officials have insisted the spaceship is not involved in new weapons but will be used to help military missions on the ground.
The 11-year-old project was originally started by Nasa but was taken over by the Air Force in 2006.
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Post by justjohn on Dec 5, 2010 5:04:37 GMT -7
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Post by karl on Dec 5, 2010 6:25:32 GMT -7
It is interesting that our sins return to haunt us after all these years, our sin? It is our history. This machine is the result of our former government in the later part of the war. It was the studies and concept for a rocket bomber as devised by Herr Walter Dornberger as: Saenger Bret Silverbird Intercontinental skip glider. www.astronautix.com/craft/dynasoar.htmThe concept design was obtained through the American programme: Paper Clip. This was later provided to the American firm of: Boeing for development as Project Dynasoar to the present: X-37B. The coastal area of my former home was unfortunately, the launching sites for the various missile launches to England during the war. For Peenemuede is a beach area close by to Cuxhaven in as well as many other sites suitable for the V-2 launches. For as of this proximate, The Americans with the British Military, were at close of war, arresting children for later as we learnt, to find out what they knew of the various rocket machines being tested. We in Dänemark, were to hear of the arrest of German Children, and were of the thought, The Americans were taking out revenge upon us. But of course, this was not the case. But at this time as a German child living as a Dänisher, provided my Auntie with much anguish for to be discovered by Military British Occupational Authority. But, as time has proved, all things end in time, and we progress into the future with the courage of ignorance. Karl |
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Post by Nictoshek on Dec 5, 2010 9:26:11 GMT -7
I prefer the tourist plane:
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Post by justjohn on May 27, 2012 7:03:19 GMT -7
Revealed: How America's secret space plane has been in orbit for over a year - and no one knows what it's doing The X-37B has been circling the Earth at 17,000mph and was due to land in California in December By Ted Thornhill The U.S Air Force’s highly secret unmanned space plane was supposed to stay in space for nine months, but it’s now been there for a year and three days – and no one knows what it’s doing. The experimental craft has been circling Earth at 17,000 miles per hour and was due to land in California in December. However the mission of the X-37B orbital test vehicle was extended – for unknown reasons. More here: www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2112146/Mystery-U-S-X-37B-space-plane-orbit-year.html#ixzz1w11YXZ7L
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