So Air Force Space Command boss Gen. William Shelton gave us a tiny bit more insight into the service’s super secret space spycraft, the X-37B, when he said that it’s doing its super secret — and year-long — mission excellently and that there’s no need for a bigger version of it or to increase the size of the X-37B fleet.
What was really interesting about his comments, was the fact that he wouldn’t say just how big the fleet is. Keep in mind that the service has said that it’s got two of the mini-shuttles for a while now, but Shelton’s response to a question about the size of the fleet raised more questions than it answered.
“There’s no plan, certainly that we can afford, to increase the fleet size,” said Shelton during a breakfast with reporters in Washington this morning. When a reporter followed up to his statement by asking if the fleet size was just two vehicles, Shelton replied by saying, “let me check on whether or not I can talk about that.”
Weird, considering that the service has been very public about the fact that it has two of the space planes. His response seems to open the door to the possibility that there are more than just two X-37Bs.
Other than that, all Shelton would say about the robo-shuttle program is that “it is doing very well on-orbit and we don’t have an exact reentry date for it, it’s had a successful mission and we are very happy with the performance.”
He was discussing the record breaking flight of the second X-37B, dubbed Orbital Test Vehicle-2, that has been aloft for more than a year now. As for what it’s been doing for that year, we can only guess.
Update: We just heard from the Air Force, they maintain that there are only two X-37Bs and the next flight of OTV-1 is scheduled for the fall of 2012.
{ 40 comments… read them below or add one }
There is a lot more up there than we know about down here ;)
And you're okay with this?
Yep because people generaly can use information like you know who our spys are what info we have to hurt us. This is called spycraft and intelligence.
So yes im ok with this. If i was in china maybe not but then if i was chinese i would probably also be happy about it.
Thats the reality if the world. Dont like it? Well tough……reality doesnt care about hopes or dreams or principles its murdered the vast magority of species basicly its a bitch.
Who is "people?" I don't believe there's been a direct attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor, so I think it's a bit paranoid.
Why do you think a thug is more likely going to attack an elderly or weakly male/female whilst a third-degree black belt karate expert would never have to worry about that thug? Deterrence through strength, not just peace. Does that answer your question?
Occassionally, the karate expert would also carry a knife/gun to boot.
how about 9/11…?
Tinkering with Chinese satellites perhaps?
Sorry but "There ain't no stealth in space". http://www.projectrho.com/rocket/spacewardetect.p…
I observed the 1st X-37B in orbit with a cheap pair of binoculars. Hiding any spacecraft of useful size is imposable. The power systems expel waste heat, maneuvering thrusters produce heat and visible exhaust, the craft's hull, solar panels and heat radiators reflect sunlight. Not to mention that the launch shows up on half the radar screens in the world.
You are not sneaking something up there bigger than a soft ball.
It most likely has new tech that it’s testing. One of those tech is its electric propulsion, Energy extraction and management system is another example. The plane might have new improved solar panels. Plane would be there until it gives or they are satisfied with the parameters they set.
"third X-37B space plane mission is being readied" Along with the first mission. The second plane is to launch sometime next may… Space.com, if you're interested, and CBS.com
So possibly as many as 3, with the 3rd currently being built. Space-trackers track even the most high-profile targets, amateur trackers and professional alike, so it's improbable that they have multiple planes up there. You can keep a technology secret, but something like a space-launch is hard to hide. The same trackers say that the trajectory is similar to those of imaging satellites, that it might be gathering imagery intel. Sounds on target to me, maybe this is what China is testing Space-space weaponry, to take out this kind of thing.
Area 51 is not dead!
Maybe the X-37 is doing so well that's why they cancelled the Global Hawk and let this and the U-2 do the spy flying? Who knows?
p.s. I got a profile. woot-woot.
I heard they were making an x-37c that would be a scaled up version able to accomodate 6 astronauts and be launched from an atlas V
Boeing has announced plans to officially build said X-37C. Good for them.
Maybe there enough room in the cargo bay to give Newt a lift :-D
It is spying on the Chinese new space lab… well, at least the first module anyway.
Oops… Was that a Chinese space lab?
"So what IS the X-37 doing?"
Looking for Dr. Evil in the Bob's Big Boy…..
"So whats it doing"
Looking to spy on China and tick them off that there radar can see it but its too far up to intercept.
We have Spy Sats for that job already……
Thanks Sgt….
The space trackers have a book about them I believe…
3, eh?
it's all AI at this point friends, notice the trolls in suits?
There are six in the fleet. Classified info. It's too early yet to determine if the XB37B's will make shuttle flights. A later model is planned to accomodate these missions.
Where do you know they have six in a fleet?
Go to https// morning after.com/funnel
Maybe it's really Obama's idea for a solar aircraft. Isn't that really why he shut down the shuttle?
Bush killed the shuttle. By the time Obama got in office and asked, he was told it would be too expensive to extend the shuttle program.
I heard that Obama wanted to eliminate heavy brigades and replace them with special forces and bombers from on high.
Whoops, that was Rumsfeld. Mea culpa.
The Shuttle died right on schedule. Back in the sixties it was assumed a vastly superior
vehicle would be ready by now.
We assumed we'd be in moon colonies back in the day.
and today if a politician mentions them they are laughed at.
What a sorry state we are in. :(
We should still make Moon colonies. Just because that would be so frikin sweet. Besides, we're all getting bored down here.
2001 And Stanley Kubrick? The ipad is not quite a HAL9000.
Obama did not end the shuttle program . George w Bush signed the order ending the program. Do some reading about it.
This is a simple aviation progression towards unmanned (thus cheaper and more durable I think in that you don;t have a human to keep alive) flight. The shuttles were expensive to fly and this I'm sure shaves of quite a bit of the cost. Plus, being able to stay in orbit for a year…no human mission could do it cheaply and why would you want to? This is just a guess as I am nothing more than a simple man but…makes sense I think!
If only we could talk the big BHO to take a test flight, with say the target the SUN, just dreaming, but at 60 plus years on this old planet, I think I have earned the right.
the terrorists involved in 9-11? You've got to arrest Dick Cheney and his ilk for some "enhanced interrogation"
Those responsible for security and access control at the twin towers and bldg 7 should also be investigated
9-11 was an inside job. No a shred of doubt about it.
Not a shred of doubt that you have been off your rocker for some time now. Did your elevator EVER reach the top ???
Defame defame defame. That's all the detractors can do. What will the detractors be saying when the conspiracy against America enters its final stages? What will they be saying when they're all using Ameros and the U.S. has been dissolved and merged with Canada and Mexico? Sieg heil probably!
"What will the detractors be saying when the conspiracy against America enters its final stages? What will they be saying when they're all using Ameros and the U.S. has been dissolved and merged with Canada and Mexico"
Probably "Boy! I need to stop eating spicy food just before going to bed".
But IF your prediction comes true over the next 5-10 years, I'm sure you are welcome to come back and say "I told you so".
Regards & all,
Thomas L. Nielsen
Luxembourg
And PS: Why do you think that Canada would even want the north part of the US?