SpaceX Will Launch Secretive X-37B Spaceplane's Next Mission (latimes.com)

schwit1 quotes a report from Los Angeles Times: SpaceX will launch the Air Force's X-37B experimental spaceplane later this year, in the military's latest vote of confidence in the Elon Musk-led space company. This will be the first time SpaceX has launched the uncrewed robotic vehicle. United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp., has launched the spaceplane's previous four missions atop one of its Atlas V rockets. The Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, which is responsible for the X-37B's experimental operations, said it was "very excited" for the fifth flight, which will test how special electronics and heat pipes will fare during a long-duration space mission. The Air Force has two of the spaceplanes, which look like miniature versions of the space shuttle and are known officially as X-37B Orbital Test Vehicles. The first X-37B was launched in 2010.

Comments

Whats experimental and secretive about it?

[Viol8]

The USA managed to build and launch an airliner sized crewed reusable spaceplane called the shuttle in the 1970s. I'd love to know whats so cutting edge about the X35 that they're trying to keep this midget version of the shuttle secret. Warp engines? Dilithium crystals? Or just too embarresed to show that space technology has barely advanced in 40 years?

Re:Whats experimental and secretive about it?

[phayes]

It can stay in orbit for months to validate technology which cannot be tested any other way.
It soft-lands so that the experiments can be controlled and validated
It can be launched on any EELV compliant launcher
It doesn't cost >$1B to refurbish for each launch.

I don't recall all of these existing 40 years ago in a single vehicle...