White Knight Testing X-37

mknewman writes "The innovative carrier plane used to air-launch SpaceShipOne has a new mission. At its inland spaceport in Mojave, Calif., the White Knight mothership has been involved in fit and high-speed taxi checks with a new passenger: the X-37, an unpiloted, reusable space plane. "

Comments

Re:Private Space May Be The Only Game Left

[geomon]

As is usual for geomon,

I've got a FAN!!!

Goody!

There are NOT newer and less expensive methods..

Really?

Ask the folks over at DirecTV.

If you read the press release it said nothing about using NASA for the launch.

Why?

[uberdave]

Why do they need the White Knight? Don't they usually drop these types of test craft from bombers (like the B-52)? Surely the US air force can get thier hands on one.

Re:Why?

[ChePibe]

The White Knight will no doubt be significantly cheaper than a B52.

Just take a look at the two:

B52 - 8 big jet engines, combat crew of 5 (probably smaller for most NASA missions), 159 feet long.

White Knight - Not entirely familiar with the specs on this plane, but it looks like it has two engines, a crew of one or two, and is probably about 45 feet long or so (just guessing from photos and comparing it to length of X 37).

The White Knight is likely much cheaper to operate than a B-52, so that would probably explain it.

Re:Why?

[uberdave]

*MY* nation is not at war. I don't think it has been officially at war since WW2.

Same Ol' Same Ol'

[sycodon]

Nasa has been doing this kind of crap ever since they finished the Space Shuttles.

They start down a promising path of cheaper, more efficient access to orbit, just ditch the research.

Personally, I think it's the middle managers that are screwing everything up. Administrations and directors come and go, but the morons in the middle are always around.

Re:How does this relate to the America's Space Pri

[Andy Dodd]

It's simple.

He's developed SS1. He has test pilots on his payroll that he probably has contractual obligations to pay whether they're doing something or not.

Both SS1 and its pilots are currently not doing anything, and operating them right now doesn't take ANY resources away from other projects. By renting out SS1, he's converting a possible money sink into a moneymaker, money he can use to further the development projects he wants to pursue.

LEO should be left to private, NASA needs moon/mar

[Shivetya]

I agree that LEO is best left to the private concerns. However I disagree about your view of what setting a Mars mission does to NASA.

NASA should be about advancing our capabilities many fold. This does not mean doing the same damn thing we have been doing for nearly 50 years which is playing around in orbit of our own planet.

NASA should be about goals outside the capabilites (read monetary concerns) of privates/corporations. This means setting up on the moon and eventually getting to Mars.

Scenario. Use NASA to setup a PERMANENT facility on the Moon. Then by the design and policy have that open to private interests. The big expense is setting up a launching point that others can use. NASA (read:government) could charge a nominal fee for usage and set some ground rules. However this makes it open to ANYONE.

NASA isn't hobbled by looking to Mars, NASA has been hobbled for the last 20 years simply because they WERE NOT looking beyond the Earth. (let alone public imagination - I am pretty sure orbital excursions are and have been ho-hum for sometime)

Poor NASA, and Poor us.

[Xac]

Man, i feel sorry for our species. We spend 3 trillion dollars on killing humanity. and only 53 million a year to save it.

It seems like we want our species to end on this godforsaken rock.