X37

[montyben101]

What do you think the X37 is doing up there? its been in space for about 1 and a half years now.

Also why is the engine off center?

[Chris P. Bacon]

It's a real good question, and we probably won't find out for sure until the 25 years is up on the FOIA. The space shuttle design called for it to be able to fly up with a KH-10/KH-11 sized photography payload, take pictures, and bring them back down to Earth. Back when we were using all kinds of crazy methods of retrieving actual film from the satellites. But by the time it started construction, technology had progressed enough to negate manned spy satellites and film recovery at all.

My best guess (and its mission goals back me up on this) is that its going to be used to refuel existing air force hardware in space, and possibly repair solar panels and other components (similar to the 'Manned Spaceflight Engineer' program the air force used to have for DoD shuttle missions). I wouldn't put it past the air force to see it as an ASAT platform as well, since they seem to try and strap those things to any aircraft/spacecraft capable of carrying them (F-15/Gemini-B as examples) The real kicker that I remember from a few years ago, was it had a requirement of something like 3k m/s of dV in the original design contract.

Edited July 27, 2014 by Chris P. Bacon

[montyben101]

Wow that's a big delta V demand, any ideas on the engine being off center though? it looks really weird

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_X-37#mediaviewer/File:X_37B_OTV-2_02.jpg

look at the back view

[R0cketC0der]

It's a real good question, and we probably won't find out for sure until the 25 years is up on the FOIA. The space shuttle design called for it to be able to fly up with a KH-10/KH-11 sized photography payload, take pictures, and bring them back down to Earth. Back when we were using all kinds of crazy methods of retrieving actual film from the satellites. But by the time it started construction, technology had progressed enough to negate manned spy satellites and film recovery at all.

My best guess (and its mission goals back me up on this) is that its going to be used to refuel existing air force hardware in space, and possibly repair solar panels and other components (similar to the 'Manned Spaceflight Engineer' program the air force used to have for DoD shuttle missions). I wouldn't put it past the air force to see it as an ASAT platform as well, since they seem to try and strap those things to any aircraft/spacecraft capable of carrying them (F-15/Gemini-B as examples) The real kicker that I remember from a few years ago, was it had a requirement of something like 3k m/s of dV in the original design contract.

That might be, but how would you explain the 1.5 years it stayed in orbit? If refueling/repairing would be the purpose it would surely have run out of supplies by now.

As you said, we probably won't find out until the 25 years is over.

[Chris P. Bacon]

It's probably a test platform, although a year and a half seems like a long time for a test.. its hard to speculate on these things because of the inherent secrecy around them. We still don't know what went up on the first DoD shuttle flight in 1985.. all we know is from one Air Force astronaut that flew on the mission, who said in 2009 that "its still up there, and still operating"

The off center engine does look a bit odd, and really gets at my ocd.. but its probably just something to do with an off center fuel/payload that gets dumped before reentry. (doubt it could fly very stable with the CoM that far off)

It's a cool ship, shrouded in mystery. At least we have pictures of this one, unlike the SR-71's and others which people assumed were UFO's out of Area 51

[montyben101]

They are thinking of making one that holds passengers (which means it probably wont be made ) im guessing that this version wont be military and will take people to the ISS or something

[Scotius]

Enigma wrapped in mystery All in all, it does seem to be very advanced craft. Hopefully sooner or later tech involved will trickle down to civilian sector. Maybe one day we'll see proper spaceplanes based on X37.

[Chris P. Bacon]

this version wont be military and will take people to the ISS or something

I really hope so, it would make one awesome little crew transfer vehicle. The current one is launched out of Vandenburg (off the old shuttle pad if I'm not mistaken) which puts it in the polar-orbit, spy satellite territory, so if its not up there as a photography craft itsself (the long mission duration makes it seem possible, although no real need to return something like that to earth anymore) it makes sense that its a testbed for satellite maintenance, being the only capable craft since the loss of the shuttles.

The air force seems to get all the cool toys at whatever price they want Like their promised 1/3 of all shuttle missions... and they don't have to share or tell us about their awesome stuff. lol

Edited July 27, 2014 by Chris P. Bacon

[magnemoe]

That might be, but how would you explain the 1.5 years it stayed in orbit? If refueling/repairing would be the purpose it would surely have run out of supplies by now.

As you said, we probably won't find out until the 25 years is over.

Yes, refueling the keyhole and similar large low orbit satellites would be an useful mission however it would not be week long mission.

Test of part in space might be the best guess, something so secret they would not test it on IIS,

[RichieD76]

I think its fairly obvious what its doing up there don't you?

I mean there are plenty of spy satellites so its obviously not looking down. Its taking hi-res, close up, shots of other people (countries) "stuff".

Looking at there architecture, capabilities etc.

The best way to intercept transition of data...? Be right next to the satellite that's relaying and retrieving it.

Explains the secrecy, relatively small size, need for a high Delta V for changing altitude/orbit plane, AND the need for it to be reusable because eventually it would need to come down to refuel.

It couldn't be just left for someone to discover.

Back in the 50's the US experimented with skipping off the earths upper atmosphere to gain altitude and change course with the Lynx space plane I believe (or that was the plan I think, not 100%)

Putting a heat shield on a disposable satellite to do be able to that task would no doubt leave evidence when it re-entered the atmosphere... so make it fully reusable.. ala the X37

I mean its way to small to meaningfully refuel an existing satellite and why would you? The USAF have just block brought 47 (?) cores to lift new, more capable, satellites into orbit....

Why use a whole Atlas 5 to just top up an old one?

It makes more sense to send up a new one while using an X37 to spy in on other countries spy satellites. Know what they know about you, know what they are doing with land, sea and air assets...effectively you know what they are GOING to do before you've even seen it take place with optical spy satellites.

DATA is what makes countries dangerous nowadays, not war ships and nukes.

If you were responcible for homeland security what would make you feel safer at night.....an optical spy platform overlooking a hostile country OR a reusable space plane that can sit by the side of a geostationary mobile communication satellite for 2 years at a time listening in on 2 million phone calls and internet streams 24/7 for NSA/GCHQ to monitor....

Edited July 27, 2014 by RichieD76
spelling

[magnemoe]

Interesting idea, using the atmosphere for orbital changes, and yes it would fit with the X37 profile.

[Kryten]

USAF and NRO have plenty of signals interception sats; it doesn't make much sense for them to produce an expensive reusable system with a small payload rather than the inexpensive sats they're already using. I'd say the only thing that really makes sense given the amount of time taken on the trips so far is long-soak component testing.

[Sky_walker]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but as far as I remember - X37 never approached any other satellite, so things like refueling or returning satellites back home are out of question.

[linkxsc]

Interesting idea, using the atmosphere for orbital changes, and yes it would fit with the X37 profile.

Do it all the time in KSP with interplanetary craft. (actually now that I look at it, I kinda want to do an X-37 design for the lulz. Though no clue about the offset engine)

[Rus-Evo]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but as far as I remember - X37 never approached any other satellite, so things like refueling or returning satellites back home are out of question.

Yeah I think its location is not hidden, so they would know what it went near.

[Tommygun]

I think the most likely answer is the least exciting.

They are probably just testing materials and flight hardware for future space craft.

Someday the Air Force will have practical aerospace planes, but to get there they will have to fly and test research aircraft like the X-37.

They are learning what works and what doesn't with each flight.

There is probably little that the X-37 can do now that a dedicated satellite can do better and lighter.

As the technology improves you could see similar vehicles being used in specialized missions that need a rapid and changing response.

Right now it's just a learning tool.

[CocoDaPuf]

Yeah I think its location is not hidden, so they would know what it went near.

Really? I find that pretty surprising. Are they not technically able to keep it's location hidden? Like could the craft be picked up on radar, or tracked optically? Cause that's the only reason I could come up with for it's position to not be hidden.

[Kryten]

Like could the craft be picked up on radar, or tracked optically?

Yes, easily.

[rodion]

Really? I find that pretty surprising. Are they not technically able to keep it's location hidden? Like could the craft be picked up on radar, or tracked optically? Cause that's the only reason I could come up with for it's position to not be hidden.

amateur astronomers using consumer grade equipment have been able to detect and image (sometimes very clearly, see here) certain classified government projects such as KH-class NRO surveillance satellites, so given some intelligent guesses about orbital parameters it wouldn't surprise me if a person or organization was able to track the X-37, at least for a time.

[magnemoe]

amateur astronomers using consumer grade equipment have been able to detect and image (sometimes very clearly, see here) certain classified government projects such as KH-class NRO surveillance satellites, so given some intelligent guesses about orbital parameters it wouldn't surprise me if a person or organization was able to track the X-37, at least for a time.

True, the US has an satellite mapping program who keep track of not only satellite but also junk. Pretty sure Russia and China has something similar.

If you wanted to hide an satellite because you wanted it to spy on another one you would use something small as its easier to hide however it would be simpler to use multiple who was close often and had another purpose who was public.

[Aethon]

Really? I find that pretty surprising. Are they not technically able to keep it's location hidden? Like could the craft be picked up on radar, or tracked optically? Cause that's the only reason I could come up with for it's position to not be hidden.

There was a wealth of info on how to see it.

http://www.universetoday.com/65017/amateur-astronomers-spy-on-air-forces-secret-mini-space-plane/

Flare from X-37b in orbit.

http://www.universetoday.com/65338/amateur-astronomer-images-x37-b-space-plane-in-orbit/

[tetryds]

Edit: re-open.

Be careful to not let this fall into conspiracy theories, I will be watching

Edited November 18, 2014 by tetryds