The Air Force is preparing to launch its highly secretive X-37B Space Plane on its sixth mission into outer space, for a mission which reportedly could last up to two years.
As The National Interest reports:
OTV stands for “Operational Test Vehicle.” Officially, the Air Force deploys the 29-feet-long X-37B robotic mini-shuttle to test out new technology. But it’s obvious that the Boeing-made space plane is capable of much more than that.
OTV-6 is scheduled to launch atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on May 16, 2020. The unmanned X-37B de-orbits on its own and lands like an airplane…
The X-37B’s increasing endurance is testimony to its design and careful planning by its operators. The vehicle once in orbit deploys solar panels for powering on-board systems. It also packs liquid fuel for its maneuvering thrusters.
Doing some more X-37B “snooping around” … OTV-2 still has the best close-up landing video… #X37B #OTV2 pic.twitter.com/zeTw28EbQf
— DutchSpace (@DutchSpace) April 27, 2020
Although the plane’s actual purpose remains a tightly guarded secret it is speculated that its true purpose could be as a weapon to be used to destroy enemy satellites in the event of a major conflict.
This always pisses me off. How secretive can it be if you’re reporting it? Whatever happened to “loose lips sink ships”?
STAY WELL, SAFE, FREE & BRAVE!
The Russians walked in to patent office and acquired the plans for the shuttle by just asking for them However- major changes were introduced into the design on paper that for sure would make the spacecraft fail, which it did, especially the re-entry tile work, it was the first design which didn’t work. to bad ruskies
space shutler technology is over 50 years old. anybody that try to compare otherwise is and idiot. the russian tried to compete but came out short. their space shutler did not work and is collecting dusk on some forgoten building. what we have is warning to russia and china that we are monitoring them and we are ready to destroy their satelites in case they do not behave properly.lets those bastards make our day.
Funny. It’s a weapon. Used for eavesdropping on satcom as well as the ability to eliminate any oncoming threat. A drone built for space. Also can carry……..spacemen.
More than likely the shuttle is used as a maneuverable for reconnaissance platform. It’s highly unlikely to carry any weapons, though by treaty it could as long as they weren’t WMDs.
Perhaps a day will come when SF (Space Force) personnel will patrol the skies in one of these as USAF Security Forces personnel patrol in earthbound vehicles today.
They should have saved a pile of money by buying the Russian Burans that are in storage and never used. They ar far superior to the old Space shuttles and three are unused (the fourth was damaged in a earthquake in Kazakhstan).
How were the Burans superior if they were never used to prove that?
RecceI………..Excellent question ……and look at the name of the person
saying thay the Russian Burans are superior to the USA space
shuttles…..Vladilyich is a Russian name….so what can you spect ???
Really? A totally inferior craft on so many levels. Built in 1980. First flown inn1988? Analog tech? Cmon dude. Russian stuff is stolen tech…..from the US.
Maybe if it’s our secret, let’s keep it that way. We don’t need to help China, Iran and Russia, or give explanations because we feel we need a pat on the back.