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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."

11 of 81 comments (clear)

  1. 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.
  2. Godspeed by bugs2squash · · Score: 4, Funny

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

    --
    Nullius in verba
  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.
  6. Trippy by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 4, Funny

    Could Land On Tuesday

    What's wrong with landing on a runway?

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    systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
  7. Re:I have it on good authority by frank_adrian314159 · · Score: 2

    What about a brushing? Or a waterpik?

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    That is all.
  8. 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.

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. 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?

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    moox. for a new generation.