X-37B returns home

http://www.space.com/missionlaunches...t-space-plane-
landing-101203.html

A successful landing in California wraps up the X-37B's 220 day
secretive mission. The Air Force has already ordered another OTV from
Boeing and is now thinking up possible missions for its new toy. NASA
too will be interested, and SpaceDev's Dream Chaser may get increased
attention because of the X-37's success. Although capsules (like Orion
and Dragon) are extremely safe, astronauts would rather pilot a plane-
like vehicle which offers some more living space and a proper toilet.

In article ,
says...

http://www.space.com/missionlaunches...t-space-plane-
landing-101203.html

A successful landing in California wraps up the X-37B's 220 day
secretive mission. The Air Force has already ordered another OTV from
Boeing and is now thinking up possible missions for its new toy. NASA
too will be interested, and SpaceDev's Dream Chaser may get increased
attention because of the X-37's success. Although capsules (like Orion
and Dragon) are extremely safe, astronauts would rather pilot a plane-
like vehicle which offers some more living space and a proper toilet.

Nice. The X-37B ought to provide the Air Force with lots of interesting
data. Too bad the project didn't stay with NASA. If it had, the public
would know more about the mission and the performance of the vehicle.

Jeff
--
42

"Anne Onime" wrote in message
...
http://www.space.com/missionlaunches...t-space-plane-
landing-101203.html

A successful landing in California wraps up the X-37B's 220 day
secretive mission. The Air Force has already ordered another OTV from
Boeing and is now thinking up possible missions for its new toy. NASA
too will be interested, and SpaceDev's Dream Chaser may get increased
attention because of the X-37's success. Although capsules (like Orion
and Dragon) are extremely safe, astronauts would rather pilot a plane-
like vehicle which offers some more living space and a proper toilet.


I forgot to mention that this is the first time (as far as we know)
that the Air Force has successfully flown a spaceplane mission, almost
50 years after DynaSoar was conceived. It has indeed taken a long time
for the dream to become a reality.

On 12/3/2010 7:53 AM, Anne Onime wrote:


I forgot to mention that this is the first time (as far as we know)
that the Air Force has successfully flown a spaceplane mission, almost
50 years after DynaSoar was conceived. It has indeed taken a long time
for the dream to become a reality.

The X-23 PRIME didn't go into orbit, but did do a successful reentry and
landing on its third flight in 1967:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_X-23_PRIME
An ASSET suborbital flight was also recovered in 1964:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASSET_%28spaceplane%29


Pat

Looks like some of the first snaps of the vehicle are released:

http://www.space.com/missionlaunches...ng-101203.html

A few of them show some interesting discolorations. This one:


http://www.space.com/php/multimedia/...ndenberg+News+[%3Ca+href%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.space.com%2Fmissionla unches%2Fphotos-x-37b-robot-space-plane-landing-101203.html%3EFull+Story%3C%2Fa%3E]

(sorry about that URL) shows some coming-up from the nose, as well as
some along some of the "edges" of the payload bay door. I guess
someone thought that its right was its good side - none of the images
appear to include the left side - save for a little bit on the one
from head-on.

rick jones
--
the road to hell is paved with business decisions...
these opinions are mine, all mine; HP might not want them anyway...
feel free to post, OR email to rick.jones2 in hp.com but NOT BOTH...

Pat Flannery wrote in
lephone:

On 12/3/2010 3:42 PM, Rick Jones wrote:

(sorry about that URL) shows some coming-up from the nose, as well as
some along some of the "edges" of the payload bay door. I guess
someone thought that its right was its good side - none of the
images appear to include the left side - save for a little bit on the
one from head-on.

I wonder if the flipped-up panel at the rear is an airbrake, or the
cover over a braking parachute compartment to cut down the landing
roll, like on the Shuttle?

My money's on the airbrake, but it could even be both functions.

Quite an accomplishment, being in autonomous orbit for so long and
autonomous landing, all on the first mission.

--Damon

On Dec 3, 10:36*pm, Damon Hill wrote:
Pat Flannery wrote lephone:

On 12/3/2010 3:42 PM, Rick Jones wrote:

(sorry about that URL) shows some coming-up from the nose, as well as
some along some of the "edges" of the payload bay door. *I guess
someone thought that its right was its good side - none of the
images appear to include the left side - save for a little bit on the
one from head-on.

I wonder if the flipped-up panel at the rear is an airbrake, or the
cover over a braking parachute compartment to cut down the landing
roll, like on the Shuttle?

My money's on the airbrake, but it could even be both functions.

Quite an accomplishment, being in autonomous orbit for so long and
autonomous landing, all on the first mission.

--Damon

could a manned version be built? perhaps for emergencies?

In article
,
" wrote:

On Dec 3, 10:36*pm, Damon Hill wrote:
Pat Flannery wrote
lephone:

On 12/3/2010 3:42 PM, Rick Jones wrote:

(sorry about that URL) shows some coming-up from the nose, as well as
some along some of the "edges" of the payload bay door. *I guess
someone thought that its right was its good side - none of the
images appear to include the left side - save for a little bit on the
one from head-on.

I wonder if the flipped-up panel at the rear is an airbrake, or the
cover over a braking parachute compartment to cut down the landing
roll, like on the Shuttle?

My money's on the airbrake, but it could even be both functions.

Quite an accomplishment, being in autonomous orbit for so long and
autonomous landing, all on the first mission.

--Damon

could a manned version be built? perhaps for emergencies?

You could stuff people in the cargo bay

--
Chris Mack "If we show any weakness, the monsters will get cocky!"
'Invid Fan' - 'Yokai Monsters Along With Ghosts'

On 12/3/2010 3:42 PM, Rick Jones wrote:

(sorry about that URL) shows some coming-up from the nose, as well as
some along some of the "edges" of the payload bay door. I guess
someone thought that its right was its good side - none of the images
appear to include the left side - save for a little bit on the one
from head-on.

I wonder if the flipped-up panel at the rear is an airbrake, or the
cover over a braking parachute compartment to cut down the landing roll,
like on the Shuttle?

Pat

On 12/3/2010 7:36 PM, Damon Hill wrote:

I wonder if the flipped-up panel at the rear is an airbrake, or the
cover over a braking parachute compartment to cut down the landing
roll, like on the Shuttle?

My money's on the airbrake, but it could even be both functions.

Quite an accomplishment, being in autonomous orbit for so long and
autonomous landing, all on the first mission.

Yeah, the Air Force and Boeing did a good job on it, and the TPS looks
in pretty good shape as well. Now if we just knew what was in the cargo
bay...(cut to image of a Colossal Cosmic Comet Cootie, its blood based
on arsenic, hammering on the inside of the cargo bay doors as it tries
to escape. Ten years from now, the Taliban will be facing these
creatures in Afghanistan.)

Pat