Military History | How To Make War | Wars Around the World Rules of Use How to Behave on an Internet Forum
Space Operations Discussion Board
   Return to Topic Page
Subject: It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's Disappeared
SYSOP    6/20/2012 5:23:17 AM
 
Quote    Reply

Show Only Poster Name and Title     Newest to Oldest
Chris       6/20/2012 10:37:20 AM
Twice the size, and able to carry 6 astronauts?  Another shuttle, only without the cargo payload, and not run by NASA.  @import url http://www.strategypage.com/CuteSoft_Client/CuteEditor/Load.ashx?type=style&file=SyntaxHighlighter.css);" target="_blank">link
 
Quote    Reply

mivenho       6/20/2012 11:53:54 AM
The empty eight of the space shuttle orbiter (with engines installed) is 86 tons, not 2000 tons.
 
Quote    Reply

HeavyD       6/20/2012 1:24:13 PM
Why would the Chinese be worried about a technology and capability we've had for 35 years?
 
 
Quote    Reply

bikebrains       6/20/2012 1:59:37 PM
"This feat was made possible by the fact that the X-37B carried with it a large solar panel, which came out of the cargo pay, unfolded and produced enough power to keep the X-37B up there for even longer."   should read " This feat was made possible by the fact that the X-37B carried with it a large solar panel, which came out of the cargo bay, unfolded and produced enough power to keep the X-37B up there for even longer."
 
Quote    Reply

Maddcowe    Ughhh...   6/20/2012 9:03:26 PM
Bikebrains, no offense, but in trying to figure out the "Where's Waldo" of your correction, I used up way more precious brain cells than I did when I read the original article and immediately deciphered the typo. And in typing my comment, I've probably used up even more brain cells. Dang.
 
And HeavyD, this may sound dumb, and I'm not sure if you were being sarcastic or anything, but I really wonder why it is that the Chinese are so concerned about the X-37C? Like you said, the technology has been around for 35 years, so why now? I envision futuristic teams of US Air Force Space Commandos, doing a shoulder roll out of the vehicle to covertly disable a Chinese spy satellite. That would be cool.  
 
 
Quote    Reply

Sty0pa       6/22/2012 9:03:45 AM
Disable is easy-mode.  I think the real worry is going to be capture/retrieve missions.  Of course, I'd imagine that spy satellites have built-in explosives, etc to make this a hazardous proposition for at least the last 40 years, but still - having a 'space car' that can fly up to your satellite, disable it, and grab the drives/memory and vital bits would be pretty awesome.
 
Quote    Reply

Chris       6/22/2012 10:53:21 AM
@import url http://www.strategypage.com/CuteSoft_Client/CuteEditor/Load.ashx?type=style&file=SyntaxHighlighter.css);" target="_blank">link

Capture/Retrieve would require a serious cargo bay like the shuttle had.  But the X37 is also stealthier - which would be why the Chinese are concerned.
 
Quote    Reply



 Latest
 News 		  Most
 Read 		  Most
 Commented		  Hot
 Topics