"Greg D. Moore (Strider)" wrote in message
m...
"Jonathan" wrote in message
...



Maybe it's me, but it seems rather straight forward that the idea
is to lower cost to orbit with a reusable spacecraft. Which would
enable the military, and civilian sector, to do whatever they
pleased in the future due to the lower costs.

Why would anyone think the X-37B is in it's final form, or scale?
All of the others X planes were scale versions.

Umm, no they weren't. Most where in fact the only version.

I've done my homework. They were all testbeds, not prototypes.
There's no reason to believe the X-37B is any different.We can't
assume the final form will be manned or unmanned,

The Lockheed Martin X-33 was an unmanned, sub-scale technology
demonstrator for the VentureStar
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-33

The X-43 is an unmanned experimental hypersonic aircraft design
with multiple planned scale variations meant to test different aspects
of hypersonic flight.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-43

The unpiloted X-40 was built to 85 percent scale to test aero
dynamics and navigation of the X-37
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_X-40

The Orbital Sciences X-34 was intended as a low-cost testbed to
demonstrate "key technologies" integratable to the Reusable Launch
Vehicle program.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_Sciences_X-34

The Boeing X-37 Advanced Technology Demonstrator is a demonstration
spaceplane that is intended to test future launch technologies while
in orbit and during atmospheric reentry. It is a reusable robotic
spacecraft that is a 120%-scaled derivative of the X-40A.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-37B


My point is that the assumption around here is that all these
attempts were failures, got canceled, and that's the end of
the low cost reusable story. I say, and it seems rather
obvious, that instead, the various technologies which /were/
successful are in the process of creating the latest attempt.
The X-37B. All these programs just didn't get ****-canned.
The best of it went to the Pentagon black budget and
low cost reusable technology is not just alive and well, but
quickly catching up...imho.


From what I can gather
it seems pretty clear the military has cherry-picked the successful
technologies from the various other 'canceled' projects, the X-33,
X-34 and X-43, and have run with them with the X-37B.

The next space war will be won by the side that can replace
their space assets, taken out on 'day one', the fastest.

There's nothing new there. We've known that for a few decades.


But my point is that our tactics are in the process of changing.
The Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) program started in
2003 or so, and marks the shift away from the large nuclear war
hardened satellites, to the small easily replaceable micro satellites
they wish to begin building. Not having large military assets in
space translates to ... not needing....men in space in the future.

My point....and I wish people here would actually try to discuss
the point, not just holler "you're full of ****". I mean once in a
while it would be nice to have an adult conversation around here.
My point, is that the X-37 B looks quite suitable for that kind
of military tactics. While The Stick and Heavy would be exactly
the opposite of what the military could use.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Conten...6/076oeyqy.asp


All these things also point to a quick demise of the notion of returning to
the Moon.




--
Greg Moore
Ask me about lily, an RPI based CMC.