X-37b Factsheet and Possible Missions

X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle Fact Sheet

Debate Over Mission and Reason for this Program

Official objectives of the X-37B program include "space experimentation,
risk reduction and concept of operations development for reusable space
vehicle technologies." However, none of the potential missions posited
by the US military appear to justify the program's existence, especially
on a cost basis, and this has led to speculation about what the "real"
mission may be.

X-37B as a deployment platform for ORS satellites (Feasibility: medium)

X-37B could be launched into orbit and deploy multiple small satellites
on a very timely basis to support time sensitive warfighter needs

"We could have an X-37 sitting at Vandenberg or at the Cape, and on
comparatively short notice, depending on warfighter requirements, we
could put a specific payload into the payload bay, launch it up on an Atlas
or Delta, and then have it stay in orbit, do the job for the combatant
commander, and come back home," Payton said. "And then the next flight,
we could have a different payload inside, maybe even for a different
combatant commander."

....Gary Payton, the undersecretary of the Air Force for space programs.
http://swfound.org/media/1791/x-37b_otv_factsheet.pdf



The Great Game in Space

China's Evolving ASAT Weapons Programs and Their
Implications for Future U.S. Strategy


"If there is a great power war in this century, it will not begin
with the sound of explosions on the ground and in the sky, but
rather with the bursting of kinetic energy and the flashing of
laser light in the silence of outer space. China is engaged in an
anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons drive that has profound
implications for future U.S. military strategy in the Pacific.

China's direct-ascent ASATs pose a serious challenge to
U.S. photographic intelligence (PHOTINT), electro-optical (EO),
synthetic aperture radar (SAR), and electronic intelligence
(ELINT) satellites that operate in low-earth orbit (LEO).
According to Desmond Ball, a stockpile of around 20 direct-ascent
ASATs would be needed to guarantee the destruction
of the six or seven EO/SAR satellites that are thought to
currently constitute the bulk of classified U.S. national
security space imaging.

A further 20 such weapons would be needed to guarantee
the destruction of the four co-orbiting groups of three sub-satellite
units (SSU) the U.S. Navy uses to locate enemy warships and
ground-based air defense systems with which it can then target
with its over-the-horizon, satellite-guided cruise missiles.

The loss of these EO/SAR/ELINT platforms, which are probably
the main targets of China's direct-ascent ASAT weapons, would
be a very serious blow to the U.S. at the outset of any conflict."
http://project2049.net/documents/chi...e_in_space.pdf

In article ,
says...

X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle Fact Sheet

Debate Over Mission and Reason for this Program

Official objectives of the X-37B program include "space experimentation,
risk reduction and concept of operations development for reusable space
vehicle technologies." However, none of the potential missions posited
by the US military appear to justify the program's existence, especially
on a cost basis, and this has led to speculation about what the "real"
mission may be.

X-37B as a deployment platform for ORS satellites (Feasibility: medium)

X-37B could be launched into orbit and deploy multiple small satellites
on a very timely basis to support time sensitive warfighter needs

"We could have an X-37 sitting at Vandenberg or at the Cape, and on
comparatively short notice, depending on warfighter requirements, we
could put a specific payload into the payload bay, launch it up on an Atlas
or Delta, and then have it stay in orbit, do the job for the combatant
commander, and come back home," Payton said. "And then the next flight,
we could have a different payload inside, maybe even for a different
combatant commander."

...Gary Payton, the undersecretary of the Air Force for space programs.
http://swfound.org/media/1791/x-37b_otv_factsheet.pdf



The Great Game in Space

China's Evolving ASAT Weapons Programs and Their
Implications for Future U.S. Strategy


"If there is a great power war in this century, it will not begin
with the sound of explosions on the ground and in the sky, but
rather with the bursting of kinetic energy and the flashing of
laser light in the silence of outer space. China is engaged in an
anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons drive that has profound
implications for future U.S. military strategy in the Pacific.

China's direct-ascent ASATs pose a serious challenge to
U.S. photographic intelligence (PHOTINT), electro-optical (EO),
synthetic aperture radar (SAR), and electronic intelligence
(ELINT) satellites that operate in low-earth orbit (LEO).
According to Desmond Ball, a stockpile of around 20 direct-ascent
ASATs would be needed to guarantee the destruction
of the six or seven EO/SAR satellites that are thought to
currently constitute the bulk of classified U.S. national
security space imaging.

A further 20 such weapons would be needed to guarantee
the destruction of the four co-orbiting groups of three sub-satellite
units (SSU) the U.S. Navy uses to locate enemy warships and
ground-based air defense systems with which it can then target
with its over-the-horizon, satellite-guided cruise missiles.

The loss of these EO/SAR/ELINT platforms, which are probably
the main targets of China's direct-ascent ASAT weapons, would
be a very serious blow to the U.S. at the outset of any conflict."
http://project2049.net/documents/chi...e_in_space.pdf

Great marketing.

Remember the marketing for Dynasoar? How about MOL? Blue Gemini? The
space shuttle? From a military perspective these were all solutions
looking to solve a non-existant problem. They all failed to deliver on
their military promises.

Reality often rears its ugly head when it comes to engineering. I
wouldn't put *too* much stock in the marketing of an X vehicle program.

Jeff
--
"the perennial claim that hypersonic airbreathing propulsion would
magically make space launch cheaper is nonsense -- LOX is much cheaper
than advanced airbreathing engines, and so are the tanks to put it in
and the extra thrust to carry it." - Henry Spencer

"jonathan" wrote in message...
X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle Fact Sheet
Debate Over Mission and Reason for this Program

Jack linthicum adds:
There is a roughly 7 foot model of the X-37 in the Melbourne (Fla)
waiting area.

(a425 looked for this in Google, Images, and did not find
any useful pictures.)

On 12/21/2012 12:42 PM, a425couple wrote:
"jonathan" wrote in message...
X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle Fact Sheet
Debate Over Mission and Reason for this Program

Jack linthicum adds:
There is a roughly 7 foot model of the X-37 in the Melbourne (Fla)
waiting area.

(a425 looked for this in Google, Images, and did not find any useful
pictures.)

I walked past the model yesterday morning at the Melbourne International
Bus Station. Regarding ORS, the small-sat birds are compatible with
virtually all classes of launcher. The mount on a parasite ring for a
"free" ride on larger boosters and can launch three-up on things like a
Taurus.

X-37's uses are classified which means they're, well, classified.
Speculation should center on the long duration of the missions and the
ability to land at a friendly airport at almost any time since those are
the major distinguishing characteristics. Launches still have to happen
at a major launch complex.

Paul