Topic: What is the Air Force's Secret X-37B Space Plane Doing in Orbit?

[sam]

Last month's launch of the US Air Force X-37B secret mini space plane has fueled speculation about the real mission of this vehicle and if it could possibly be used for a new type of military weapon. The X-37B launched on April 22, 2010 and has the ability to stay in orbit for up to 270 days. While the Air Force provided a webcast of the launch, since then there has been no word — leaked or official – about the status of the mission. “There has been a lot of speculation about what this vehicle could do and what sort of capabilities it could provide to the U.S. military, and some of that speculation was based on more science fiction than fact,” said Brian Weeden from the Secure World Foundation. “While a successful completion of the X-37B flight, landing, and turn-around will certainly be a significant step forward in reusable space vehicle technology, it is a long ways away from a single-stage-to-orbit capability.”

http://www.universetoday.com/2010/05/19/what-is-the-air-forces-secret-x-37b-space-plane-doing-in-orbit/

[Clive]

Very good news!   

[Clive]

X-37B Found By Amateur Sky Watchers

LINK

[sam]

cool!

[sam]

following on from this: http://www.universetoday.com/2010/05/25/amateur-astronomers-spy-on-air-forces-secret-mini-space-plane/



really cool movie (well its just a dot moving but still!): http://www.kfetter.com/other/36514.wmv


and some photos: http://www.spaceweather.com/submissions/large_image_popup.php?image_name=Gary-IMG_4566SpacePlaneX-37B1_1_1274701809.jpg

[Clive]

Nice finds Sam!