|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Q: Status of X-37 program?
[x-posting note: The proper group for this question somewhat depends
on its answer ;-)] Hi, In September 2004, the X-37 unmanned reusable spacecraft program was transferred from NASA to DARPA. Unfortunately, I'm unable to find any more up to date information on the X-37. The DARPA website has nothing at all on it, and information on Boeing's site is all from before Sept. '04. So it seems that the X-37 was either cancelled or went "into the black". Does anybody know the answer? TIA Andreas |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Andreas Parsch wrote:
[x-posting note: The proper group for this question somewhat depends on its answer ;-)] Hi, In September 2004, the X-37 unmanned reusable spacecraft program was transferred from NASA to DARPA. Unfortunately, I'm unable to find any more up to date information on the X-37. The DARPA website has nothing at all on it, and information on Boeing's site is all from before Sept. '04. So it seems that the X-37 was either cancelled or went "into the black". Does anybody know the answer? TIA Andreas This sounds close: http://www.darpa.mil/tto/programs/falcon.html Quoting (last paragraph) ------------------------------ The Small Launch Vehicle (SLV) will provide the nation with a new, small payload access to space capability while enabling affordable implementation of the Falcon hypersonic technology flight-test program. The SLV will be capable of boosting hypersonic technology vehicles to conditions required for validating the performance of hypersonic technologies in flight. The primary objective is to develop a capability to place a small satellite weighing approximately 1,000 pounds into a reference orbit defined as circular, 100 nautical mile altitude, due east, and launched from 28.5o north latitude for a total launch cost of less than $5 million (excluding payload and payload integration costs). These objectives are a significant spiral in the development of an Operationally Responsive Spacelift capability currently being pursued by the Air Force. NASA has also expressed interest in the Small Launch Vehicle capability and is a formal partner in the Falcon Small Launch Vehicle development program. end quote ------------------------------ they don't mention X-37 as such, but the description sounds similar to the old X-37 objectives... -- Reed Snellenberger GPG KeyID: 5A978843 rsnellenberger-at-houston.rr.com |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Rand Simberg wrote:
On Mon, 07 Feb 2005 12:35:43 GMT, in a place far, far away, Reed Snellenberger made the phosphor on my This sounds close: http://www.darpa.mil/tto/programs/falcon.html they don't mention X-37 as such, but the description sounds similar to the old X-37 objectives... No, Falcon is a completely separate and unrelated program, which is why they don't mention X-37. X-37 was a hypersonic research and entry vehicle. Falcon is a launcher. Here's the scoop as of last fall: http://www.space.com/news/x37_darpa_040915.html Hmmm... from the DARPA website (end of first paragraph) "The Falcon program will also develop a low-cost, responsive small launch vehicle with a twofold objective: to place small satellites into low earth orbit and to provide a low-cost means of launching sub-orbital hypersonic technology vehicles." Which is why I thought they might have grabbed the X-37 project as a basis for this piece of work -- i.e., their in-house version of the X-47 project's Pegasus launcher. That, and the mention of partnership with NASA... But if you know that this isn't where X-37 went, I sit corrected... -- Reed Snellenberger GPG KeyID: 5A978843 rsnellenberger-at-houston.rr.com |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Rand Simberg wrote:
I know that there are several Falcon contractors, each with their own notion of what Falcon will look like, none of which (AFAIK) have any relationship to X-37, and that this was occuring almost a year before NASA transferred X-37 to DARPA: http://www.spacedaily.com/news/rocketscience-03zzi.html I suppose that it's possible that some contractor may decide to use X-37 as the basis for the Common Aero Vehicle, but I'm not aware that any have done so. The Common Aero Vehicle is defined as an unpowered hypersonic glide vehicle, to deliver precision guided weapons (and other payloads??) from orbit or sub-orbital trajectories. The X-37 wouldn't fit this definition. Andreas |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
On Mon, 07 Feb 2005 12:35:43 GMT, in a place far, far away, Reed
Snellenberger made the phosphor on my monitor glow in such a way as to indicate that: Andreas Parsch wrote: So it seems that the X-37 was either cancelled or went "into the black". Does anybody know the answer? This sounds close: http://www.darpa.mil/tto/programs/falcon.html Quoting (last paragraph) ------------------------------ snip they don't mention X-37 as such, but the description sounds similar to the old X-37 objectives... No, Falcon is a completely separate and unrelated program, which is why they don't mention X-37. X-37 was a hypersonic research and entry vehicle. Falcon is a launcher. Here's the scoop as of last fall: http://www.space.com/news/x37_darpa_040915.html |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Reed Snellenberger wrote: "to place small satellites into low earth orbit and to provide a low-cost means of launching sub-orbital hypersonic technology vehicles." Sounds like somebody is trying to develop a rocket-boosted scramjet cruise missile. Pat |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
On Mon, 07 Feb 2005 13:51:29 GMT, in a place far, far away, Reed
Snellenberger made the phosphor on my monitor glow in such a way as to indicate that: Hmmm... from the DARPA website (end of first paragraph) "The Falcon program will also develop a low-cost, responsive small launch vehicle with a twofold objective: to place small satellites into low earth orbit and to provide a low-cost means of launching sub-orbital hypersonic technology vehicles." Which is why I thought they might have grabbed the X-37 project as a basis for this piece of work -- i.e., their in-house version of the X-47 project's Pegasus launcher. That, and the mention of partnership with NASA... But if you know that this isn't where X-37 went, I sit corrected... I know that there are several Falcon contractors, each with their own notion of what Falcon will look like, none of which (AFAIK) have any relationship to X-37, and that this was occuring almost a year before NASA transferred X-37 to DARPA: http://www.spacedaily.com/news/rocketscience-03zzi.html I suppose that it's possible that some contractor may decide to use X-37 as the basis for the Common Aero Vehicle, but I'm not aware that any have done so. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
"Pat Flannery" wrote in message
... Sounds like somebody is trying to develop a rocket-boosted scramjet cruise missile. Rimmer: Aliens! Lister: Oh god, aliens? Your explanation for anything slightly peculiar is aliens, isn't it? You lose your keys, it's aliens. A picture falls off the wall, it's aliens. That time we used up a whole bog roll in a day, you thought that was aliens as well. Rimmer: Well we didn't use it all, Lister. Who did? Lister: Rimmer, aliens used our bog roll? Rimmer: Just 'cause they're aliens doesn't mean to say they don't have to visit the little boys' room. Only they probably do something weird and alienesque, like it comes out of the top of their heads or something. Lister: Well I wouldn't like to be stuck behind one in a cinema. |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Neil Gerace wrote: Rimmer: Aliens! Lister: Oh god, aliens? Your explanation for anything slightly peculiar is aliens, isn't it? You lose your keys, it's aliens. A picture falls off the wall, it's aliens. That time we used up a whole bog roll in a day, you thought that was aliens as well. This is DARPA, not NASA we're talking about here; if they suddenly get it into their head to start flying hypersonic test vehicles around, they are doing it in relation to a military use for them. They've been interested in the concept for some time; going at least as far back as the Hypersonic Glide Vehicle; the question is what the propulsion system would be: ramjet, scramjet, rocket, or some combo of the three? And does it get dropped off of an aircraft, or come out of some sort of ground based launcher? (silo or mobile) The Soviets/Russians built this thing and tested it out, but never deployed it: http://www.tfd.chalmers.se/~valeri/Ajax/gela.jpg But it apparently served as the basis for further hypersonic missile research. Here's something I stumbled on while looking for that picture; apparently ram or scramjet-boosted Russian artillery and tank shells: http://i.guns.ru/forums/icons/attach...0022_80645.gif The Germans played around with this idea in WW II. Pat |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
"Pat Flannery" wrote in message
... This is DARPA, not NASA we're talking about here; if they suddenly get it into their head to start flying hypersonic test vehicles around, they are doing it in relation to a military use for them. Maybe it's like their intarweb, eventually everyone who wants one will get one, starting with the ... university students. Oh no. They've been interested in the concept for some time; going at least as far back as the Hypersonic Glide Vehicle; the question is what the propulsion system would be: ramjet, scramjet, rocket, or some combo of the three? And does it get dropped off of an aircraft, or come out of some sort of ground based launcher? (silo or mobile) The Soviets/Russians built this thing and tested it out, but never deployed it: http://www.tfd.chalmers.se/~valeri/Ajax/gela.jpg But it apparently served as the basis for further hypersonic missile research. Looks like a contender for the world land speed record to me - I wonder why Ivan never got amongst that? |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
New Spy Satellite Debated On Hill | Jonathan Silverlight | History | 8 | December 17th 04 05:22 PM |
Web-Based Program Calculates Effects of an Earth Impact | Ron | Astronomy Misc | 9 | April 8th 04 07:38 PM |
Our Moon as BattleStar | Rick Sobie | Astronomy Misc | 93 | February 8th 04 09:31 PM |
Moon key to space future? | James White | Policy | 90 | January 6th 04 04:29 PM |
Boeing Establishes Orbital Space Program Office | Jacques van Oene | Space Shuttle | 0 | November 3rd 03 10:23 PM |