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Secretive X-37B Military Space Plane Could Land On Tuesday

schwit1 writes After twenty-two months in orbit, on its second space mission, the Air Force plans to bring the X-37B back to Earth this coming Tuesday. From the article: "The exact time and date will depend on weather and technical factors, the Air Force said in a statement released on Friday. The X-37B space plane, also known as the Orbital Test Vehicle, blasted off for its second mission aboard an unmanned Atlas 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Dec. 11, 2012. The 29-foot-long (9-meter) robotic spaceship, which resembles a miniature space shuttle, is an experimental vehicle that first flew in April 2010. It returned after eight months. A second vehicle blasted off in March 2011 and stayed in orbit for 15 months."

81 comments

  1. The biggest secret? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    It will soon be revealed that OSX 10.10 Yosemite was developed entirely in space on the X-37B in order to provide adequate security. It's returning home now that it's about to be released.

    1. Re:The biggest secret? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      i think you are thinking of MS OS X

    2. Re:The biggest secret? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      They had to to patch bash, and didn't think they could safely do it in orbit.

    3. Re:The biggest secret? by Sporkinum · · Score: 1

      Patch the entire OS from orbit--it's the only way to be sure

      --
      "He's lost in a 'floyd hole"
  2. It must be running out of fuel by rossdee · · Score: 1

    Why else would they need to bring it back

    1. Re:It must be running out of fuel by amicusNYCL · · Score: 1

      I don't see any claim that they "need" to bring it back, just that they "are" bringing it back. Considering that its stated mission is to test various technologies, maybe they want to change the payload out. Maybe the mission ended. Apparently the other two missions did not end because of a lack of fuel.

      --
      "Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
    2. Re:It must be running out of fuel by Hadlock · · Score: 3, Funny

      They managed to give Kim Jong-il cancer with their first mission, and now that they've perfected their orbital space-cancer-raygun, took out Hugo Chavez and Kim Jong-un on this latest mission. Why build airborne drones when you can riddle offending world leaders with cancer from orbit?

      --
      moox. for a new generation.
    3. Re:It must be running out of fuel by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      Much more cost effective ways to give someone cancer. CIA would do it the old fashioned way.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    4. Re:It must be running out of fuel by camperdave · · Score: 1

      They're not going to tell you WHY they are bringing a secret spy shuttle home. Maybe it does need more propellant, but telling people that will give the Enemy clues to it's performance envelope. I'm actually surprised that they are even telling us when they are bringing it back.

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
    5. Re:It must be running out of fuel by SuiteSisterMary · · Score: 1

      Polonium?

      --
      Vintage computer games and RPG books available. Email me if you're interested.
    6. Re:It must be running out of fuel by AC-x · · Score: 1

      Why else would they need to bring it back

      To install a different sensor package? To put it into a different orbit? I can think of many reasons, after all the whole point of the X-37 is that it can land and be re-used for different mission profiles.

    7. Re:It must be running out of fuel by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It was seen parked next to a telcom satellite belonging to some Middle Eastern outfit.

      I'm guessing they're bringing it back because the finally coaxed someone to buy some F-35s.

    8. Re:It must be running out of fuel by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In case of Un, It wasn't radiation, just a bunch of emmentaler cheese.

  3. Re:MURICA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No it has been building the Death Star that we will use to kill people. Just think being able to blast a perpetrator from space with a focused particle beam.

  4. Re:MURICA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No, we have have the spying down fairly well. We just can't keep secrets.

  5. Re:Your tax dollars being shitted away by jedidiah · · Score: 0

    America spends plenty of public and private money to feed the hungry. If anyone is actually left hungry it's not for lack of resources expended at the problem.

    --
    A Pirate and a Puritan look the same on a balance sheet.
  6. I have it on good authority by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    That this thing has some advanced propulsion system on it that also gives it some clever control over inertia and gravity. This is the thing that cut a chunk out of that asteroid that passed near Earth, towed it into orbit, and hurled it into Russian airspace. As a demonstration. Of course, we calculated the precise mass and trajectory of said asteroid chunk so as not to kill anyone...

    1. Re:I have it on good authority by LesFerg · · Score: 2

      Was that information you received from the dental implant containing the transceiver you were given following the anal probe procedure during the last "visit"?

      You may joke, but getting a dental implant via anal probe is no laughing matter. Its also not a recommended method for flossing.

      --
      If I had a DeLorean... I would probably only drive it from time to time.
    2. Re:I have it on good authority by frank_adrian314159 · · Score: 2

      What about a brushing? Or a waterpik?

      --
      That is all.
    3. Re:I have it on good authority by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      The anal route is the most direct means of cranial access for more than a few people around here.

    4. Re:I have it on good authority by RussR42 · · Score: 1

      I happen to have it on good authority that it has (or had) an over-heating problem. Search this page for "space plane" or have a look at item number 5 on this page.

    5. Re:I have it on good authority by camperdave · · Score: 1

      You may joke, but getting a dental implant via anal probe is no laughing matter. Its also not a recommended method for flossing.

      So I can give up the micro-kinis and go back to boxers? There will be much relief all around.

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
  7. It's not secretive by NotDrWho · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's just shy.

    --
    SJW's don't eliminate discrimination. They just expropriate it for themselves.
  8. Wonder if they got a "drone license" from the FAA. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Or are they going to be labeled a terrorist group... :)

  9. Godspeed by bugs2squash · · Score: 4, Funny

    I hope the crew of oompa loompas get back safely (ignore my sig).

    --
    Nullius in verba
  10. The real space shuttle by Animats · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Whatever the X-37B does, it seems to do it well. The USAF sends them up into space, they stay up for months or years, they do whatever they do, and they come home.

    Space is the place - for robots.

    1. Re:The real space shuttle by Charliemopps · · Score: 1

      Whatever the X-37B does, it seems to do it well. The USAF sends them up into space, they stay up for months or years, they do whatever they do, and they come home.

      Space is the place - for robots.

      It's a weapons platform and it's likely out of ammo.
      Think of all the drone strikes we've had as of late... now imagine if the drone was at just a tad higher altitude and had the optics of a military spy satellite... how handy would that be? and you think they don't have one? An orbital sniper rifle would be a hell of a thing.

    2. Re:The real space shuttle by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How feasible is a kinetic kill system in this day and age? The Rod of God and similar concepts, launching or dropping a projectile and having physics do the rest.

    3. Re:The real space shuttle by angelbar · · Score: 1

      Yep, I dont want to explore space... I want to explore other planets.

      --
      -no sig today-
    4. Re:The real space shuttle by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      sir Issac newton is the most dangerous bastard in space. how many KKVs could you pack in an x37? 8?

      all you have to do is give it a little deorbit puff from a solid rocket motor, and now you have an impactor ready to bust the bunker underneath the bunker that is in the way. want to block it? better have your site built into a mountain.

    5. Re:The real space shuttle by AHuxley · · Score: 1

      Re "It's not a weapons platform."
      Just for surveillance.... all the complex space related international treaties are still in play.

      --
      Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
    6. Re:The real space shuttle by AHuxley · · Score: 1

      Re optics of a military spy satellite... how handy would that be?
      Many nations that would be interesting to a military spy satellite would have the ability to track this and over time every other US spy satellite.
      The selling point of this project would have been to remove all the limitations of a traditional, trackable path of a hardware limited military spy satellite.
      Other nations know its up, know kit can be swapped out, know it is a bit different and have taken simple, very low cost steps to avoid any new US spy efforts.
      The handy aspect is the US tooling, profits, jobs, ongoing development boondoggle at a state and national level.
      Most nations understand and track all US spy satellites, ships, aircraft new and old.
      Container ships and then containers with a signals package moving deep in country would be more creative and unexpected that another expensive, trackable military spy in the sky :)
      Other nations just ensure the US has something to see 24/7 from space. A bit harder now than than classic warm shadows. Lined up in neat rows and countable.

      --
      Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
    7. Re:The real space shuttle by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You need all this energy in the first place to put the damn thing in space - might as well just use the energy right here !

      What's deadlier? A million dollar system that requires huge infrastructure and hours of preparation or a million machine gun bullets?

    8. Re:The real space shuttle by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We know Venus is a deadly chemical pressure cooker, Mars is a dead hostile empty rusty rock.

      How much of *this* planet have you explored?

    9. Re:The real space shuttle by peragrin · · Score: 1

      ah but container ships aren't expensive. the USA only does things to stupid expensive way first. then simplifies later. That way we can do it twice at 5 times the cost as everyone else.

      Just look at our healthcare system. We pay 2-3 times what other countries pay and nearly 1/6th of our population still can't afford to go to a doctor.

      --
      i thought once I was found, but it was only a dream.
    10. Re:The real space shuttle by AHuxley · · Score: 1

      Just as the tame telcos have been very helpful so have Western shipping firms ;) Lots of interesting container ships around and into China :)
      The space plane is just another way of keeping the cash flowing to contractors and keeping old space related jobs safe.
      Keep the expensive skill sets with a few more projects and generations.

      --
      Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
    11. Re: The real space shuttle by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The Glomar Explorer for space. Why not bring a Russian satellite down to the lab?

    12. Re:The real space shuttle by stealth_finger · · Score: 1

      What's deadlier? A million dollar system that requires huge infrastructure and hours of preparation or a million machine gun bullets?

      Well, the million dollar system. A million bullets ain't doing jack shit on their own.

      --
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  11. X-37C by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Any word on the X-37c? If memory serves, it would carry a crew of four astronauts and equipment and coul really be a shuttle replacement, but I haven't heard anything about it in a couple years.

  12. I thought it was dead by jgtg32a · · Score: 2

    I thought it was dead, and the Air Force just didn't say anything to mess with people and make them think about what it was up to.

  13. Re:Your tax dollars being shitted away by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    More than $4 billion was given to Haiti after the quake for shelter and food. Did any of that matter? Did Haiti improve much since? No, not really. That was $4 billion completely wasted and anyone who donated to that effort should feel bad. Haiti would provide more to the world, technologically and culturally, if it sank to the bottom of the ocean and became a diving resort for the rich.

  14. Second Space Mission?? by Strange+Quark+Star · · Score: 1

    After twenty-two months in orbit, on its second space mission, the Air Force plans to bring the X-37B back to Earth this coming Tuesday. [...] the Orbital Test Vehicle, blasted off for its second mission aboard an unmanned Atlas 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Dec. 11, 2012. [...] an experimental vehicle that first flew in April 2010. It returned after eight months. A second vehicle blasted off in March 2011 and stayed in orbit for 15 months."

    So it first flew in April 2010, a second time in March 2011 and a second second time on Dec. 11, 2012?

    I could forgive making that mistake once, but not twice inside one summary. The article itself only made the mistake once.

    Or is it me who's making the mistake, along with Wikipedia? On its page it says that it's currently on its third space flight...

    --
    There is no sig.
    1. Re:Second Space Mission?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Assuming that the article isn't just wrong, then the article is saying that there are two vehicles and this is the second mission for this particular vehicle?

    2. Re:Second Space Mission?? by Strange+Quark+Star · · Score: 1

      Yeah, on a second and longer reading it appears that there are three space missions flown by X-37 B's overall, but there were two space planes of that designation built. The first X-37 B built flew the first (2010) and this last, third (2012) mission while the second one built flew the second (2011) mission.

      This space mission is one vehicle's second flight but the third overall mission. It could have been made a little clearer and less conflicting, I think.

      --
      There is no sig.
  15. Re:Your tax dollars being shitted away by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Also, less aids... just sayin.

  16. Trippy by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 4, Funny

    Could Land On Tuesday

    What's wrong with landing on a runway?

    --
    systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
    1. Re:Trippy by schlachter · · Score: 1

      they want to make sure they land on time

      --
      My God can beat up your God. Just kidding...don't take offense. I know there's no God.
    2. Re:Trippy by SuiteSisterMary · · Score: 1

      For you, the day Bison landed his Space Plane on your tiny village was the greatest day of your life. For me, it was Tuesday.

      --
      Vintage computer games and RPG books available. Email me if you're interested.
  17. Dream Chaser? by joh · · Score: 2

    I wouldn't be surprised if the USAF would grab Dream Chaser for that. It's basically a much larger version of the X-37B and even is meant to be launched on the same launcher (Atlas V) since it doesn't need that frigging huge payload shroud that the X-37B hides its wings under during ascent.

    After Sierra Nevada being denied NASA money they're basically beggars who can't be too choosy anyway.

    Whatever the USAF needs the X37B for, Dream Chaser would be even better suited for it and again: same launcher, same launch costs with a much better payload (both size- and mass-wise), potential for a crewed version... I wouldn't even be surprised if NASA knows that too and didn't see any good reason to support something that the USAF can (and wants to) pay for just as well.

  18. and the homeless? you didnt mention the homless by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Oh please. In my town we have two kinds of homeless: Mentally ill, and those who choose to be homeless. How do I know? Because I talk to them.

    As for the mentally ill, well that is definitely screwed up. The problem is left to law enforcement, and LE cannot simply haul away some one to a mental institution when they have committed no crime.

    In all other regards, your comment is completely idiotic. If you are of sound mind and not a hobo by choice, you have to be completely daft to be homeless in this country.

  19. Re:Your tax dollars being shitted away by dryeo · · Score: 1

    How much was spent on stopping the minimum wage from raising to $5 a day so that the CEO of Haynes could get a bonus?

    --
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverted_totalitarianism
  20. Re:Your tax dollars being shitted away by davydagger · · Score: 2

    my sides, my fucking sides.

    That is so fucking bullshit its not even funny. The definition of "plenty" is debatable, as America doesn't spent nearly 1/10th what it needs to feed its poor. Let along medical care, the big one.

    The military budget, however, rarely if ever gets questioned, and we have by far the largest military spending in the world. Mabey 1/3 could probably end both homelessness and hunger, and pay for universal health care.

  21. Re:and the homeless? you didnt mention the homless by MildlyTangy · · Score: 1

    know why? because you don't care about homeless people or the starving. The only thing you really care about is making excuses for your masters to justify their horrendous profiteering on said defenseless poor people across the earth and in murica

    Really, you should kill yourself.

    Greetings troll.

    You need to add another reflective fold in your tinfoil hat, you are ranting shit-filled gibberish again. The mind control rays from our glorious, glorious masters have penetrated your defences. Please adjust your tinfoil hat to protect yourself.

    Quick, hurry before the next MCR-Sat makes another orbital pass!!

  22. Re:Your tax dollars being shitted away by lgw · · Score: 1, Insightful

    We spend ~$800B on Medicare/caid we spend ~$600B on defense and "war-specific spending" (aka, defense), and about $300B on welfare of various kinds. Defense spending is less than 20% of our $3.5T budget. (Social Security is the largest outlay).

    Of course, you're right that we're not adequately funding Medi*, as the unfunded liability there is about $800,000 per taxpayer. Not sure what we can do about that. The total US unfunded liabilities (dominated by medicare) exceeds that value of all US assets. Confiscate all wealth in the US and it still won't cover it. Clearly, promises won't be met.

    www.usdebtclock.org

    --
    Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
  23. Re:and the homeless? you didnt mention the homless by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

    Remove 'and not a hobo by choice,' and the last sentence becomes more true. Why exclude a group of completely daft people?

    Have you ever lived/worked near a rail yard? 'Hobos' are violent criminal scumbags. The only thing good about them is what they do to college hipsters who red 'on the road' one time too many.

    --
    John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
  24. Re:MURICA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Spy satellites aren't in space?

  25. Oh yeah by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can you imagine a Beowulf cluster of those Skynet planes?

  26. Re:Your tax dollars being shitted away by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yep, those fat-ass, starving 'muricans... yeah, right.

  27. Re:Your tax dollars being shitted away by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    yeah moron and i only spend 1/10 the amount on my socks as i do my shoes. I got an idea. next time you see a hungry person, give him a fuckin sandwich. and until then shut the fuck up.

  28. Trippy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I hope they're ready to clean up a mess, because a lot of people shit on Tuesday. I suppose they've picked Tuesday after considering all the people who die on Monday, and the traffic from the ones driving on Wednesday.

  29. secretive by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If this thing is so secretive why is it being promulgated?

  30. The real space shuttle by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    it's not a robot. it's fully remotely piloted. it performs servicing of spysats, orbital maneuvers for justintime spying, and disables enemy satellites. it can and sometimes does carry an astronaut for further tinkering/disabling of sats. the chinese and russians are not happy about this bird, at all. and they have no counter to it. at least when it disables a sat it doesn't blow it to bits clouding the orbits. it's just big wirecutters on an arm.

  31. Re:Your tax dollars being shitted away by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

    Even ignoring the political ramifications of spending so much on defence, what justification is there for doing so? In terms of improving the lives and health of US citizens what had the most effect, invading Iraq or healthcare?

    --
    const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
    SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
  32. The Chinese hacked the landing code by ThatsNotPudding · · Score: 1

    it took this long for the NSA find a backdoor that worked.

  33. Re:Your tax dollars being shitted away by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Doesn't help when the cheapest foods here are the worst crap for you, and the good stuff requires a mint to be able to eat healthy.

  34. Re:Your tax dollars being shitted away by lgw · · Score: 1

    Well, I happen to think a strong military presence helps us all, but I've already lost that fight, and military budgets are shrinking every year. We've already stopped being a superpower, it's just that no one else has stepped up to dominate their region yet (other than Russia, who we're used to being assholes). With defense at only 20%, future reductions give diminishing returns. Don't count on that to fix the huge problem with government overspending.

    Federal revenue has come back up as a % of GDP with the recovering economy. It won't be quite so dark once we're back to 19% or GDP, but there's no tax system that has ever sustained more revenue than that, and it's simply impossible to meet our commitments even with no spending at all on defense, infrastructure, or anything but mailing checks to people. It will not end well, and if you're not saving money to help any family who depend on government assistance, you probably should be.

    --
    Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.