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I believe the X-37 could in theory be used as a lifeboat for manned space capsules in low Earth orbit, or it could be used to ferry small satellites into orbit. The thought of using it to deploy micro-satellites or nano-satellites into orbit is an interesting one, and this vehicle does offer that capability.
I also think that given the need to respond to crises quickly, US Special Forces could attempt to use this as a way for quick insertions behind enemy lines. Theoretically, from the "go" command, telling people to suit up and get ready, to deployment, would be less than 4 hours. I do think this is a ways out though because it would need to be designed to support humans, and have a life support system, and have the ability to self-destruct once behind enemy lines to prevent them capturing the vehicle for the technology, or be used as a base camp with easily detachable components. It also frees up the need for logistics of keeping advanced bases near enemy lines.
One thing that it could do is this: provide the US the ability to launch "cheap and quick" intel-sats or comm-sats into orbit and then get back down. This could be a counter move against Chinese and Russian anti-satellite missiles. They developed the technology to shoot down satellites (especially communications and GPS satellites). We develop the tech and demonstrate the ability to put them back up again. Without the long-term life in space equipment a normal GPS or comm- or intel-sat needs, and with the march of technology, they get smaller.
In short, maybe this is our way of saying "oh you can shoot down our satellites huh? Well we can put them back up again, and very quickly, with smaller, disposable satellites."
I'm sure they could also market it as a way for the military to have a platform for long-duration space experiments that NASA will no longer be able to do once they retire the shuttle.
Also may be used for specific spying missions for a particular geographic area......when a geopolitical crises arises with the need for high resolution capability in real time. However at 29 feet long and a wingspan of only 15 feet...it would seem nearly impossible that the craft could be used to ferry humans either into space or from the International Space Station???????
Air Force launches space plane 1 day after delay | Science Headlines | Comcast.net (http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-science/20110304/US.Mystery.Spacecraft/ - broken link)
Last edited by PITTSTON2SARASOTA; 03-06-2011 at 05:47 AM..
Also may be used for specific spying missions for a particular geographic area......when a geopolitical crises arises with the need for high resolution capability in real time. However at 29 feet long and a wingspan of only 15 feet...it would seem nearly impossible that the craft could be used to ferry humans either into space or from the International Space Station???????
Air Force launches space plane 1 day after delay | Science Headlines | Comcast.net (http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-science/20110304/US.Mystery.Spacecraft/ - broken link)
Perfect timing for aerial reconnaisance over Libya and maybe Egypt as well. And this could be the replacement for the SR 71 BlackBird Spy Plane. When you think about it.....it makes perfect sense too!
One thing that it could do is this: provide the US the ability to launch "cheap and quick" intel-sats or comm-sats into orbit and then get back down. This could be a counter move against Chinese and Russian anti-satellite missiles. They developed the technology to shoot down satellites (especially communications and GPS satellites). We develop the tech and demonstrate the ability to put them back up again. Without the long-term life in space equipment a normal GPS or comm- or intel-sat needs, and with the march of technology, they get smaller.
In short, maybe this is our way of saying "oh you can shoot down our satellites huh? Well we can put them back up again, and very quickly, with smaller, disposable satellites."
This. It has been proven several times that traditional satellites are vulnerable to attack from at least several nations. As much as the military now relies on satellites for everything from intel to communications to navigation and weapons targeting, we need to be able to quickly replace those systems if they come under attack.
The ability to launch a plane like the X-37B equipped with whatever payload we need to replace lost satellites is very important, especially considering no one else has that ability. In a theoretical war with China, their first move would most likely be to take out our satellites. We would respond by taking out their's. However, we have the ability to quickly replace that lost capability, they don't.
No way, Jose! You don't need to haul up all the dead weight of an OMS, wings, re-entry shielding, atmospheric avionics, communication package, onboard computers, fuel cells, etc. etc. etc. for a return to earth if all you want to do is launch a bunch of micro or a single macro satellite.
All you need is the Launch vehicle, and a apogee kick motor. Unless we are really stupid, there is no reason to use the X-37 or any return vehicle to launch satellites. We made that mistake once already with the shuttle.
If you want to quickly launch replacement satellites, Kenetic Energy Weapons, NRO payloads, or any of a dozen other things, you don't put them aboard a vehicle that's coming back. We don't (as far as I know) actually take film photographs (and then bring them back to be developed) of anything from space anymore. I think we stopped back in the 1950's.
Same deal if you want to take out enemy satellites. Even the spraypaint thing; you can do it cheaper without a return vehicles. And I can't imagine we built this thing so we can go capture a Chinese spy satellite, bring it back, and interrogate the gerbils that run on the treadmill that winds the camera.
There's really only 3 reasonable possibilities:
1. It does exactly what they say it does; test satellite components and return them to Earth for inspection. Not sexy, but the most likely.
2. It's a Military Space Plane without a mission. Kept alive by a bloated Air Force space program and muckety-mucks who made this their pet project without understanding even the basics of spaceflight. Sadly, this option has a pretty high probability as well.
3. It does something we can't guess at because were not part of the MiB. Yeah, I wish this were true too, but I don't think so. There's just not a lot of reasonable options unless you wanna start talking aliens.
I agree that launching satellites can be done far more cost effectively with traditional launch systems. What I see as a possibility (remember this is an "X" plane so they are generally only intended as test platforms to develop tech for other purposes) is using it as an instantly available reconaissance asset and also as a replacement for missing satellite needs over a battlefield.
Current satellites are only useful when they are overhead and it costs a lot of money to position a billion dollar satellite in geo-stationary orbit, where it has limited use. We also don't park those types of satellites to cover everywhere, just the places we feel we need them. Those assets are also highly vulnerable and carry a limited amount of fuel, so they can't be moved around just for the heck of it.
An X-37B could be outfitted itself with a package and deployed rapidly in place either to provide quick recon or to replace missing space assets over a battlefield area, think communications and GPS. Since it is reusable, you can always update it with the latest packages available and tailor it to each mission as needs unfold. This plane has also proven incredibly hard to track while in orbit as many people have tried to find it, the same people who have no problem tracking existing satellites.
An X-37B could be outfitted itself with a package and deployed rapidly in place either to provide quick recon or to replace missing space assets over a battlefield area, think communications and GPS. Since it is reusable, you can always update it with the latest packages available and tailor it to each mission as needs unfold. This plane has also proven incredibly hard to track while in orbit as many people have tried to find it, the same people who have no problem tracking existing satellites.
Sure, I'll buy that it's an observational platform, but why does it need to come back? If all we want is a power source and orbital maneuvering system for an instrumentation or comm package, why not just build that without the wings, reentry shield, and atmospheric avionics? You could dump all that dead weight and add loads of propellant so your ready-response satellite could do orbit cranks or other fuel-intensive maneuvers.
And if you want to stealth it, the last thing you want is a ton of carbon tiles, a tungsten nose, and a re-entry-capable body shape. You're going to want to coat it with some of that super-special radar-absorbent paint, and you can't do that if it's got to re-enter.
The ONLY thing special about the X-37 is that it comes back (you know, in one piece). So answer the question "why does it need to come back?" and you've got your mission.
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And this could be the replacement for the SR 71 BlackBird Spy Plane. When you think about it.....it makes perfect sense too!
