Military Space Plane vs. Ares 1...which could be operational first?

Jochem Huhmann wrote:
I have been looking for that mission when the X37-B launch were
announced back then (it has been delayed more than once yet) and ended
up with two options: One, they have a clear idea for that and I was
totally unable to even guess at it. Two, they have no idea either.

The only even remotely possible reason would be to return things found
in orbit. Is there something up there they want to grab and return? It
would've to be something fairly small or a small part of something
larger, mind you.

One option would be that it refuels and replenishes reconsats, as well
as possibly boosting their orbits.
This speculated it is a space bomber: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3077821/
And the Boeing artwork of one with a RV riding over either inner wing
would suggest that's the case also:
http://msnbcmedia2.msn.com/j/msnbc/1...2.standard.jpg
But you would need a large number of them in orbit to get one within
range of the intended target at the time you wanted to hit it due to
orbital mechanics.
Also, since the X-37 is intended for a 270 day mission, what exactly do
you do with the RVs when the vehicle heads home for refurbishment and
relaunch?
In this other piece of artwork, the X-37 is shown with a solar array
deployed and something cylindrical down in the cargo bay:
http://space.skyrocket.de/index_fram..._sdat/x-37.htm
But it doesn't look like a camera...ASAT weapon?
You could carry a nuclear warhead inside the cargo bay and have the
vehicle land at the end of its mission with that aboard, but that would
be a direct violation of the Treaty Of Outer Space, and a pretty
treacherous step to take as it could then be used as a first strike weapon.
Still, this thing is a holdover from the second Bush administration, so
who knows? They tossed the ABM Treaty, so maybe the TOOS was on the
chopping block also?




"Rapid sortie photo-reconnaissance" launched on an Atlas V sounds a bit
crazy, if you ask me. There *must* be simpler and cheaper and more rapid
ways to do that.

Or they have some reusable black launcher in the works.


Since the X-37B doesn't seem to have much acceleration ability on its
own given its internal propellant tankage, such a launcher would have to
be able to get it up to around 80% orbital velocity to work.

Pat