Robot Spaceship Lands at Vanderberg AFB

[rodsky]

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Nope, not some cheesy sci-fi flick--it's a fact.

Air Force robot space plane returns – This Just In - CNN.com Blogs



(from CNN)
The U.S. Air Force's first unmanned space plane returned to Earth Friday, but its mission remains shrouded in secrecy.

The X-37B, known as Orbital Test Vehicle 1, landed at 1:15 a.m. at California's Vandenberg Air Force Base after spending more than seven months in space on its maiden voyage.

"Today's landing culminates a successful mission based on close teamwork between the 30th Space Wing, Boeing and the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office," said Lt. Col. Troy Giese, the X-37B program manager from the AFRCO. "We are very pleased that the program completed all the on-orbit objectives for the first mission."

During its 220 days in orbit, the unmanned space plane conducted "on-orbit experiments" and "fired its orbital maneuver engine in low-earth orbit to perform an autonomous re-entry before landing," the Air Force said in a press release.

Otherwise, the exact nature of X-37B's mission is unclear because it remains classified.

Some analysts have speculated that the spacecraft is an unmanned orbital spy platform and not a weapon, according to Space.com.

The program's test objectives include risk reduction, experimentation and concept of operations development for reusable space vehicle technologies, according to the Air Force.

We also know a bit about its features from the Air Force: The unmanned spacecraft is designed for vertical launch to low Earth orbit altitudes where it can perform long-term testing and experimentation. Upon command from the ground, the OTV autonomously re-enters the atmosphere, descends and lands horizontally on a runway. Its height is 9 feet 6 inches and its wingspan is 14 feet 11 inches.

The Air Force is preparing to launch the next X-37B in spring 2011.

YT video in FLIR, with snapshots appended at end of video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHc6ThXSEZQ


-RODION

[treize]

Damn can't help myself from keep on wondering what it's mission..

[dandan68]

coOL.............................................. .............

[AMD_infinium05]

fly by wire aircraft... not really far from commercial jets. but since this is unmaned, still the robot (aircraft itself) nagsubay ghapon sa landing sequence and etc.

[rodsky]

fly by wire aircraft... not really far from commercial jets. but since this is unmaned, still the robot (aircraft itself) nagsubay ghapon sa landing sequence and etc.

You're doing what most people usually do--mistaking spaceflight for atmospheric flight. Whole new ballgame. Read up: Basics of Space Flight

So you're statement "not really far from commercial jets" doesn't apply here--it may apply for UAV's, but definitely not for the X-37B.

I'm an Orbiter addon developer, so I know what I'm talking about
Orbiter - FAQ

-RODION

[AMD_infinium05]

^^^ hmm so they are totally different.

spaceflight and atmospheric flight can differ obviously from gravity? correct?

[cptn_star]

^^^ hmm so they are totally different.

spaceflight and atmospheric flight can differ obviously from gravity? correct?

from propulsion methods to means of flight control, spaceflight and atmospheric flight are two different realms.

[yhokz101]

"Some analysts have speculated that the spacecraft is an unmanned orbital spy platform and not a weapon, according to Space.com." Or could be the other way around.. could be a weapon not a spy platform. like what has been mentioned, "its mission remains shrouded in secrecy."

[stokwa143]

Available in supermarkets near you. (Batteries and parts each sold separately)
wahahah
i wanna have one. akong gamiton pang spy. hehehe

[jangska]

paytera na jud sa ilang gipang himo..