On 09/12/2010 02:46 PM, M wrote:
On Sep 12, 11:43 am, "Jorge R. wrote:
On 09/12/2010 12:55 PM, David Spain wrote:

Greg D. Moore (Strider) wrote:
Jorge R. Frank wrote:
On 09/11/2010 09:58 PM, David Spain wrote:
OK, gotcha, I made this up. :-D

But seriously, can anyone think of a legit scenario where this could
happen? Can the X37-B reach the ISS? Or are all its capabilities so
deeply classified no-one can say?
Wrong inclination, highly doubtful X-37B has enough plane change
capability.

I was presuming on a reflight mission.

Yes. Not the current one.

Then the limiting factor is whether X-37B has relnav sensors and
software. I don't believe the current one does. Don't know if they're
developing such capability for a followon.

Bottom line is, anything's possible if they put the development work
(read: money) in.

But isn't the reality more likely that this will be launched on very
very high inclination orbits from Vandenberg? Seems likely to be the
more useful orbits for its, ahem, intended purpose... And would these be
too highly inclined for the ISS or about right?

Too highly inclined.

Not only software, but it would need the radar and docking mechanisms
in order to do it all

Good point on docking mechanisms, but radar was implied in "relnav sensors".

Which begs the question, why bother doing it anyways.

It seems to me it would open a huge political can of worms to have a
military spacecraft dock with a civilian space station.

Good point. Whatever X-37B is, the USAF probably wouldn't want the other
ISS partners to get too good a look at it.

If X-37B does perform a rendezvous, the USAF has no shortage of targets
they can use.