The X37 is coming home!

[Kryten]

Something like that. Weather-related, certainly.

[Tommygun]

I wonder if you can fry satellite's electronics with some sort of microwave emitter.

They are working on them.

Bofors HPM Blackout:

https://r3zn8d.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/bae_pdf_bofors_hpm_blackout.pdf

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/articleDetails.jsp?arnumber=5386327

There are also devices that work on ultra low frequency infrared lasers that destroy electronics.

I don't know how good ether of these things are at long ranges.

[Error404brain]

My guess would be trying to convert a simili asteroid into usable materials (iron,...) Because what ever nation got it (asteroid) and can get one when they want, is a nation that have tons of dollars. like big tons of them

[deadshot462]

It's conveniently sized to fit 3 kerbals.

[Astronomer]

Obviously there is no real advantage for using for this craft other than to recover (steal?) satellites already in orbit and doing long-term observations (testing equipment which they want to have back).

It's noteworthy that it may be a part of the development process for the X-37C.

This would of course be a dream-come-true for the US military as they now can steal all the russian space vodka while they're sleeping [on the ISS].

Edited October 17, 2014 by KasperVld

[montyben101]

The more I look at that image the more i see XD

[J.Random]

They are working on them.

Bofors HPM Blackout:

https://r3zn8d.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/bae_pdf_bofors_hpm_blackout.pdf

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/articleDetails.jsp?arnumber=5386327

There are also devices that work on ultra low frequency infrared lasers that destroy electronics.

I don't know how good ether of these things are at long ranges.

Then here's the possible answer why DoD needs X-37: satellite interceptor (a couple of years ago there were assumptions it will use kinetic ammo, but that would be the last measure, I guess). Especially if you consider current US National Space Policy, which declares that they should defend their space infrastructure against any threat (and they're masters in imagining threats). Ability to fry Russian or Chinese spy satellites with zero threat of detection should be priceless for US. Ability to safely land equipment which allows that for checkups/maintenance/upgrades is a bonus.

[Nibb31]

Then here's the possible answer why DoD needs X-37: satellite interceptor (a couple of years ago there were assumptions it will use kinetic ammo, but that would be the last measure, I guess). Especially if you consider current US National Space Policy, which declares that they should defend their space infrastructure against any threat (and they're masters in imagining threats).

There would be no need to make it reusable. Just launch a dozen of expendable ones on a single launch instead, or make a big one with enough propellant to last 20 years.

Ability to fry Russian or Chinese spy satellites with zero threat of detection should be priceless for US.

The X-37 is constantly tracked by amateur astronomers. It would be instantly detected.

Ability to safely land equipment which allows that for checkups/maintenance/upgrades is a bonus.

A kinetic weapon doesn't need much maintenance. If you're going to relaunch an upgraded sat, then just launch a second one and keep the other one up there as a bonus.

[Red Iron Crown]

Proceeding by elimination, my personal guess is that it's used for experimental orbital manufacturing (growing crystals, wafers or microfibers in microgravity) or long duration exposure testing of new materials. Whatever they have on board is something that they want to bring back to use on Earth which means that it is valuable or rare or impossible to obtain otherwise, and no other purpose makes any sense.

This is the mystifying part to me. ISS is a better orbital science lab than a tiny payload bay, so the likeliest reason to do experiments on an X-37 is to keep it away from the inquiring eyes of those pesky foreigners on ISS. Another possibility is that the experiment itself is somehow dangerous to the human occupants of ISS and needs to be kept out of it.

[Kryten]

The ISS is actually pretty bad for anything that's sensitive to vibration, due to the combination of constantly-running life-support plumbing and moving people. That's why Foton still exists.

[Red Iron Crown]

The ISS is actually pretty bad for anything that's sensitive to vibration, due to the combination of constantly-running life-support plumbing and moving people. That's why Foton still exists.

That's a program I wasn't aware of, thanks for pointing it out. Somehow I doubt the X-37 exists for just that purpose, though.

[Nibb31]

I don't see why not. If zero G manufacturing ever becomes a thing, it will most likely use unmanned orbital platforms like X-37 or DragonLab.

[Red Iron Crown]

But why all the secrecy then?

[Kryten]

More likely it's long-term exposure of prototype military satellite components. Security issues aside, the ISS also isn't very good for exposed payloads; you either have to use the limited area on Kibo's exposed pallet thing, or arrange full spacewalks to deploy and retrieve everything.

[Kryten]

Addendum; it's landed. Not much publicity compared to the last two.

[Tommygun]

Landed about 9:30 AM local time, I didn't hear the sonic boom though.

[Idobox]

What can you do only in space, requires secret, and can't be put in a capsule?

They keep something in space for 2 years, and bring it back in a glider. What if it is a testbed for hypervelocity nuclear missiles?

If you keep weapons in space, your enemy will know when you start your deorbit burn, know the target, and have to time to strike back before it hits. But if the missile was a spaceplane, it could modify its trajectory once in the atmosphere, meaning your enemy wouldn't realize the target until much later, and anti missile defences would be much less efficient. It would also be much better at spreading chemical or biological weapons over a large area than a ballistic missile.

The main issue I have with manufacturing and exposition testing hypotheses is that both could be done for cheaper in a capsule, unless it requires equipment more fragile than a human.

For manufacture specifically, the time spent in orbit is very long. I have no idea what could take that long to make.

For exposition testing specifically, I don't see what the US Air Force would want to test in LEO that would need so much space, or couldn't be piggybacked to some other satellite.

[Kryten]

The main issue I have with manufacturing and exposition testing hypotheses is that both could be done for cheaper in a capsule, unless it requires equipment more fragile than a human.

They don't have a capsule. They took this project from NASA and have to work with what they've got, it must have seemed a good idea at the time.

For exposition testing specifically, I don't see what the US Air Force would want to test in LEO that would need so much space, or couldn't be piggybacked to some other satellite.

They already have a system of small satellites for technology and component testing (ORS), this'd be specifically for stuff they want to return. Bear in mind this isn't necessarily restricted to supporting USAF projects, they just manage the programme

[AngelLestat]

Top secret X-37B spaceplane breaks orbital endurance record.

The nature and objective of the mission is still secret.

source:

http://www.gizmag.com/otv-3-x-37b-landing/34312/

[Dodgey]

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/96872-The-X37-is-coming-home!

Already a thread for it, but nice photo in any case.

[Vanamonde]

Merginated.

[Tommygun]

I just noticed in that previous photo that its engine isn't on the craft's center line.

[ZedNova]

I just noticed in that previous photo that its engine isn't on the craft's center line.

http://www.extremetech.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/usaf-x-37b-landing.jpg

Why? Is it a mock engine?

[montyben101]

Why? Is it a mock engine?

No, I actually noted that on another thread. The best idea why is that there some very strange balance issues with it

[Red Iron Crown]

I thought the original X-37B design had two engines. Perhaps they just removed one and left the other in its original location rather than redesign and dealt with the thrust offset through gimbal or payload CoM.