In the United States announced official data on the launch goals of the X-37B robotic spaceplane

From the cosmodrome at Cape Canaveral, the next launch of the American X-37B robotic spaceplane developed by Boeing Corporation took place. The spacecraft was launched using the Atlas V booster rocket. This is the sixth flight of one of the most secret spacecraft of our time.

The X-37B robotic spacecraft made its first flight 10 years ago - in the spring of 2010. Moreover, in none of the five previous cases, NASA did not report on all the specific goals of the missions of the device.

At the moment, the main unofficial version of the X-37B targets is the following: the spaceplane is used by the US Space Forces as a means of space reconnaissance.

The United States Space Forces themselves announced the following official data on the goals of the next launch of the spaceplane:

The device is used for various kinds of experiments and research, it allows you to check various space systems, their operation and effectiveness.

The department notes that within the framework of the sixth mission X-37B, an experiment will be conducted with the FalconSat-8 satellite, and also “the parameters of the impact on various materials in the near space environment” will be worked out. What lies behind the phrase “impact on materials” remains a mystery.

In addition, the United States says that on board the spacecraft "the implementation of the program for growing plants from seeds (including the effect of radiation on seeds), as well as experiments with microwave energy, will continue." What prevents the American aerospace agency from restricting itself to experiments with growing plants from seeds aboard the International Space Station is not reported.

A video with some launch parameters and data about the spaceplane itself:

Comments

[rocket757]

In essence, what a difference. If him and spies, then one of many! It’s up to the videoconferencing team to fix it if possible.
We must develop and implement our space flight programs.
To build and test a new technique.

[Ilya-spb]

This cosmos ... Coronovirus sprays and emits green rays.

A neighbor from above told me this morning at the main entrance)). He sees these rays after 2 bottles of Stolichnaya.

[Crowe]

- Reds - from Mars, and green - from Venus
- No. Reds, this UFO is not from our galaxy ...
- And I guessed. Not in our opinion, they are landing ... I never trusted them.

[poquello]

Quote: Crowe

- And I guessed. Not in our opinion, they are landing ... I never trusted them.

this problem was solved back in Soviet folklore by the transfer of a train with Georgians

[Fat]

Ilya, a couple of the capital at the front door is just an excuse to start a conversation)) they see miracles every morning ... In the parking lot.)))

[iouris]

Quote: rocket757

We must develop and implement our space flight programs.

It was necessary to!

[slipped]

Quote: iouris

It was necessary to!

Russian inspector satellite accused of stalking US vehicles! https://lenta.ru/news/2020/02/08/nato/

[Civil]

Quote: rocket757

In essence, what a difference. If him and spies, then one of many! It’s up to the videoconferencing team to fix it if possible.
We must develop and implement our space flight programs.
To build and test a new technique.

Golden words, you would have to Rogozhin.

[rocket757]

I like the saying - Less words, more work!
That's it.

[silverwolf88]

a reusable military shuttle ... any application ... reconnaissance ... incapacitation of key satellites of an orbital group of probable opponents ... and other and other ... it is capable of changing orbits in certain aisles ... the rest depends on the equipment and equipment ...
well, they won’t tell the whole truth ...

[Starover_Z]

The device is used for various kinds of experiments and research, it allows you to check various space systems, their operation and effectiveness.

Quote: silberwolf88

well, they won’t tell the whole truth ...

We, too, always said "For the purpose of studying outer space" Well, everything is as always.

[slipped]

Quote: silberwolf88

reusable military shuttle ...

launching a conventional rocket? and what for?

Quote: silberwolf88

any application ... intelligence ...

why, satellites are not enough?

Quote: silberwolf88

incapacitation of key satellites of the orbital grouping of likely opponents

But has he already done this? brought a lot of satellites?

Quote: silberwolf88

orbits in certain aisles can change

wings in space waving? wow!

Quote: silberwolf88

... the rest depends on the equipment and equipment ...
well, they won’t tell the whole truth ...

we have such systems, but ... further in the text

[Nyrobsky]

Quote: silberwolf88

a reusable military shuttle ... any application ... reconnaissance ... incapacitation of key satellites of an orbital group of probable opponents ... and other and other ... it is capable of changing orbits in certain aisles ... the rest depends on the equipment and equipment ...
well, they’ll not tell the whole truth ...

Well, let yourself keep silent. The main thing is that if something happens, we would have the opportunity to drop this stray.

[Lord of the Sith]

The Yankees launch all kinds of rubbish, but decent people have satellites then fail ...

[75 Sergey]

Interestingly, but they are watching him?
In principle, this rubbish can enter the atmosphere, do its nasty deeds and dump it back into orbit, or it can wait in the wings in the form of a nuclear warhead, or even not one.

[slipped]

Quote: 75Sergey

Interestingly, but they are watching him?

Glows like a star on a Christmas tree

[voyaka uh]

Right ... At amateur astronomers it’s considered a great success
sometimes detect. Only a few times and succeeded.

[slipped]

Quote: voyaka uh

Right ... At amateur astronomers it’s considered a great success
sometimes detect. Only a few times and succeeded.

here, even amateur astronomers succeeded

[voyaka uh]

All discoveries of small objects near the Earth make
not professional observatories or military, but
amateur astronomers. They are united in communities.
This X-37 was caught collectively from different hemispheres.
And got some shots.
To you for general information.

[slipped]

Quote: voyaka uh

To you for general information.

well, naive such a guy

[orionvitt]

Quote: voyaka uh

not professional observatories or military, but
amateur astronomers.

Nonsense. Both in Russia and in the United States, there are special divisions of the space forces, whole complexes have been built that, in real time, track tens of thousands of different objects in Earth's orbit. Both satellites and various "space debris". All objects larger than a tennis ball are identified, numbered and orbits calculated. The appearance of a new one, or a change in the parameters of the old, never goes unnoticed.

[voyaka uh]

If this were so, then the Americans would not bother creating
and the many years of work of this spaceplane.
That's the trick that its trajectories are badly split. He pops up
sometimes into observation zones and then disappears for a long time.

[orionvitt]

What are the observation zones, where will it disappear for a long time? What do you mean? The fact that he has the ability to change orbits does not mean that he "disappears for a long time" somewhere. Is it buried in the ground? He does not go anywhere from near-earth space. This is not "somewhere there", but right above our heads, 300-400 kilometers away. Where can you go there? This is only with Lucas in Star Wars, you can hide behind a suitable asteroid, or in a pile of space debris. So the movie.

[voyaka uh]

"Where can you go there?" ///
----
For example, in the Southern Hemisphere. Russia, in fact, in the North.

[orionvitt]

And here is the southern hemisphere? It is only in a geostationary orbit, you can hang over one point on the globe, but this orbit is equatorial. You forget that the earth is spinning. All satellites spies and other low-orbit objects fly in polar orbits (or close to them) in order to be able to cover with their presence the entire surface of the planet. You will not be able to place a single object in a low Earth orbit, so that it is constantly located only in the Southern Hemisphere, the laws of celestial mechanics do not allow this. Astronomy 10th grade. So being in the Northern Hemisphere, you have the opportunity, at least once during the day, to see all objects in Earth orbit.

[voyaka uh]

Yes, but it’s quite possible to place the object in such a way that in the North
hemisphere he flies over North America and then leaves
to the southern hemisphere. Not flying once a day over Russia.
How can it be seen from the territory of Russia?
Moreover, the X-37B is a maneuvering object.

[orionvitt]

Quote: voyaka uh

Moreover, the X-37B is a maneuvering object.

Maneuver constantly, you won’t get enough fuel.

it is possible to place the object so that in the Northern Hemisphere it flies over North America, and then leaves for the Southern Hemisphere

Perhaps, but this is a variant of a geostationary orbit (36000 km), only not equatorial, but in the ecliptic plane. Then the object will constantly "crawl" from North America to the South Pacific Ocean.

Not flying once a day over Russia.

In this case, a legitimate question arises, but why then do Americans need such an apparatus? If he does not fly either over Russia, or over China, or over Europe, or over the Middle East. Except as an orbital base. The whole point of military spacecraft is that they can fly anywhere and over anyone.

[voyaka uh]

The meaning is that it can rotate in any poorly predictable elliptical orbits with shifts, in unexpected places close to the surface of the Earth. And dive for reconnaissance or attack. Well, and, of course, it can graze or even steal (it has a cargo compartment) satellites that are interesting to Americans.

[slipped]

Quote: voyaka uh

The meaning is that it can rotate in any poorly predictable elliptical orbits with shifts

Wow

Passive surveillance based on 3 passes of OTV6, suggest that its orbit is circular, indicate that the X-37B is located at an altitude of 390 km with an inclination of 45 degrees. This track repeats every 3 days.

[knn54]

Even the budget associated with the rocket plane is classified.
Many consider him a "satellite killer".

[Ham]

again flew on the atlas ... i.e. on Russian dvigle)
and what's wrong with the masked falcon? previous launch was on it
overtake chi zrada?

[Courier]

Falcon launches Starlink 7 on Tuesday.
Another Falcon will launch Dragon 2 on the ISS in a week.

[slipped]

Quote: Ham

again flew on the atlas ... i.e. on Russian dvigle)

yes RD-180, worked successfully as usual

Quote: Ham

and what's wrong with the masked falcon? previous launch was on it
overtake chi zrada?

Do not trust.

[voyaka uh]

"Do not trust" ////
----
Musk received several contracts. More and more work with him.
Pentagon auditors are demanding savings.
Falcon is several times cheaper than ULA.

[Blackmokona]

Just the Pentagon distributes the load between contractors

[slipped]

Quote: BlackMokona

Just the Pentagon distributes the load between contractors

not trusted in distribution

[Blackmokona]

Just ULA almost completely lost orders, a little more and go with an outstretched hand to shave. Falcon devoured everything. For example, in the last unsuccessful year for SpaceX, 11 Falcon-9 flew away, and Atlas-5 only two launched

[slipped]

Quote: BlackMokona

and Atlas-5 only two launched

there are already three in this, but to be honest, no difference - we have already delivered RD-116 engines, there are even less than a dozen under the current, previously paid contract, and you can redeploy to a new modification of the RD-180MV, it is even cheaper at cost.

And so, theoretically, the ULA can make about 25 more Atlases-5.

[Blackmokona]

And Falconov 6 flew away and another 24 launches this year are planned.

[slipped]

and meanwhile, the Volga-Dnepr delivered another cargo for Atlas launches - July 17 and August 5

"Perseverance" to Mars will be allowed

[iouris]

This is the same official data (ie, data for "partners").

[Kushka]

Quote: rocket757

.
We must develop and implement our space flight programs.
To build and test a new technique.

My neighbors had a son-in-law, served in the VSVG, Oleg,
a good guy, and what salads he did, right from the garden.
So he will fall to mother-in-law from Germany, and at the house a staircase
stood. So he crawls out to the waist, inspects and says:
Yes, you need to paint the roof! And again to Germany.
Until next year.

[slipped]

Quote: Kushka

My neighbors had a son-in-law, served in the VSVG, Oleg,
a good guy, and what salads he did, right from the garden.
So he will fall to mother-in-law from Germany, and at the house a staircase
stood. So he crawls out to the waist, inspects and says:
Yes, you need to paint the roof! And again to Germany.
Until next year.

Was the astronaut? I probably flew to V-2.

[vkd.dvk]

Quote: 75Sergey

Interestingly, but they are watching him?
In principle, this rubbish can enter the atmosphere, do its nasty deeds and dump it back into orbit, or it can wait in the wings in the form of a nuclear warhead, or even not one.

It’s not possible to come up with a more stupid application, like carrying nuclear weapons.
Let's sort it all out.
The first one. The risk of a nuclear explosion at launch. It would be nice during the fighting, when everything is put in the name of victory, including this.
The second one. Fly over the intended target once every one and a half to two hours. Coriolis forces knock down the flight with each turn from the target further and further. Correction of the orbit to the track with a constant characteristic requires a very decent fuel consumption. (Horizontal maneuver). The start of a mine or mobile device and flight to the goal - 20 minutes.
The third. Risk of getting a slap in the face from the enemy’s anti-satellite weapons. Because the flight orbit is predictable.
Fourth. If the objectives of this airplane are changing, depending on the place of flight, then making changes to the bombing program requires the constant presence of the ground service. Risk of failure to transfer program changes.
Fifth. A nuclear warhead is heated during storage. There is, though a dampened nuclear charge reaction. On the ground, they are stored in refrigerators with the provision of drainage of gas released as a result of reactions. Otherwise, the pressure inside will tear any shell or ditch the detonating device and electronics. In space, the conditions are not like that. But, in fact, it is supposed to be in orbit for several years.
Sixth. Risk of landing damage.
Seventh. Landing is possible only for a couple of landing strips, of course, in your own territory. And if there, in orbit, an emergency occurs and an urgent landing is required? The risk of putting in your own territory with trouble. Planting with the enemy, with an undermining to keep a secret WITHOUT a nuclear charge, is one. You can apologize, compensate for the trouble with the dough. And if a nuclear mallet smells? This is an unconditional war.

[vkd.dvk]

I will continue. Preparation for the flight of this piece of iron is months. The start of a mine or mobile, ALREADY FORMER READY .....
And finally. One piece of iron, even a nuclear one, will solve absolutely nothing. They need to have a lot. Maybe hundreds. The price of such an amount is thousands of times more expensive than usual.

[75 Sergey]

1. an accident at start-up does not have to lead to radiation infection (how many bombs have been lost, they are still looking for it), but there will be no explosion.
2. maneuvering will only be necessary if necessary.
3. Hour X can be set when the device will be at the right time at the right point (and isn’t it hanging in a geostationary orbit?).
4. An atomic reactor in an orbital station also requires cooling, but the issue is resolved.
4. Hope I'm wrong.

[Kushka]

And to the UN rostrum a real man with a high
high-quality boots (preferably heavier).
In 1961, I went to second grade, but I went
WITH A HIGHLY RAISED HEAD! And the Americans
bunkers under their houses were digging. And today they
missiles are losing in the Leningrad region.

[vkd.dvk]

Quote: Kushka

And to the UN rostrum a real man with a high
high-quality boots (preferably heavier).
In 1961, I went to second grade, but I went
WITH A HIGHLY RAISED HEAD! And the Americans
bunkers under their houses were digging. And today they
missiles are losing in the Leningrad region.

Be proud to the end. To do this, do not lie. About lost rockets.

[Fat]

Why lie ... we arrived and took a picture at the house. .. you can sink a couple of destroyers for tourists. To you! Pride to the dough. What kind of .... Missiles ....... no one has ever lost this good. Bombs were lost

[domovoy home]

the damn thing went beautifully.

[vkd.dvk]

Quote: 75Sergey

1. an accident at start-up does not have to lead to radiation contamination, and there will be no explosion.
2. maneuvering will only be necessary if necessary.
3. The nuclear reactor at the station also requires cooling, but the issue is resolved.
4. Hope I'm wrong.

Nuclear bombs were lost. And that which inside spilled out and scattered around. Even if there is no explosion, the consequences will be good. For the adversary. But you do not know. The most unpleasant consequences are always assumed. And they build the system on such conditions, assuming that if it has eliminated the MOST terrible, then the simpler will be eliminated with ease. Believe me, a designer with a good quarter-century experience.
You need to maneuver without fail. Otherwise, the Coriolis spiral will allow flying over Moscow (the most tidbit) in an uncontrolled flight once every couple of months. But all the same, the flight path of the charge will change with each turn, which will require adjusting the program every two to three hours (the period of revolution of the airplane in orbit).
The nuclear reactor at the station is cooled and controlled by personnel. Water, hydrogen pumping, metal coolant. The cooling conditions in vacuum and in the Earth are different. Cool when convection does not work, but only radiate heat into space, into a vacuum that is thousands of times less effective ..... It's good that you're wrong.

[Simargl]

Quote: vkd.dvk

Believe me, a designer with a good quarter-century experience.

Somehow does not fit with the statement

Quote: vkd.dvk

The nuclear reactor at the station is cooled and controlled by personnel.

At 99,99%, the reactor is controlled by ACS, and is cooled by coolant.

Quote: vkd.dvk

which will require adjustments to the program every two to three hours

The program can be set once, and according to the sensors, it will be "guided" continuously.

Quote: vkd.dvk

Cool when convection does not work, but only radiate heat into space, into a vacuum that is thousands of times less effective ...

Almost a year ago, Russian development was procrastinated drip cooler for a megawatt nuclear power plant with an open circuit (where the coolant emits while not in the tubes, but in the vacuum of space).

 Here, such

Здесь: www.atomic-energy.ru/news/2013/03/14/40441?page=4

[vkd.dvk]

Quote: Kushka

Quote: rocket757

.
We must develop and implement our space flight programs.
To build and test a new technique.

My neighbors had a son-in-law, served in the VSVG, Oleg,
a good guy, and what salads he did, right from the garden.
So he will fall to mother-in-law from Germany, and at the house a staircase
stood. So he crawls out to the waist, inspects and says:
Yes, you need to paint the roof! And again to Germany.
Until next year.

Is this so that you are not forgotten here? Then write nonsense more often. Become more visible.

[vkd.dvk]

Quote: voyaka uh

Right ... At amateur astronomers it’s considered a great success
sometimes detect. Only a few times and succeeded.

But do the pros have the same technique and follow the object with binoculars? Like many lovers.

[eklmn]

“... the“ exposure parameters for various materials in the near space environment ”will be worked out. What lies behind the phrase “impact on materials” remains a mystery. ”
The riddle is only for the author of the material. If you rummage around on the Internet, you can find it, if you want - not a military secret. Knowledge of English is a must ....
“What prevents the US aerospace agency from confining itself to experiments with growing plants from seeds aboard the International Space Station is not reported. ”
Indeed, the UN was not asked !!! In fact, complaints should be sent through the diplomatic channel, and not discussed on the Internet !!!
By the way, a little history and the future. NASA Martian rover Spirit stuck in the sand of Mars and died in 2010. Now NASA is preparing a new rover, flying this year. But this rover can walk on sand, and also uses vibration to move on sand.
Georgia Tech Scientists taught the rover not to get stuck.
https://youtu.be/YIU6a76PVvE

[sgapich]

Official photos of the preparations for the launch:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ulalaunch/sets/72157713645363178/

[aiden]

This atlas flies on Russian engines

[Peter Tverdokhlebov]

Material Impact

Maybe they are testing equipment for the future space-based kinetic interceptor on this spaceplane?

[slipped]

Quote: Peter Tverdokhlebov

Maybe they are testing equipment for the future space-based kinetic interceptor on this spaceplane?

no, there are already phasers

[Engineer Schukin]

Quote: eklmn

NASA Martian rover Spirit stuck in the sand of Mars and died in 2010. Now NASA is preparing a new rover, flying this year. But this rover can walk on sand, and also uses vibration to move on sand.

Strangely enough, Opportunity and Curiosity disappeared between "2010" and "now"

[eklmn]

My fault is that you did not pay attention, and I did not emphasize the keywords “stuck in the sand”.
It's a nightmare for NASA to think that a rover might be stuck in the sand. This happened to Spirit, and he died there in the sand. In a couple of months, NASA will send another rover to Mars, which will be able to move on quicksand. How he does it - in the movie in my link. The dark mass in which he travels - poppy seeds, very unsteady ...

[nobody111body]

a bunch of Jews are trying to build now space "aircraft carriers" to cover their plunder of oil and gas from space now

[qobnvmog]

Quote: nobody

a bunch of Jews are trying to build now space "aircraft carriers" to cover their plunder of oil and gas from space now

Where can I get my share?

[muham]

Quote: nobody

a bunch of Jews are trying to build now space "aircraft carriers" to cover their plunder of oil and gas from space now

Again mihan in borsch added ...

[qobnvmog]

It's good to have a launch clip attached to this article. So I drew attention to one seemingly trifle, which, probably, few Russians will pay attention to, simply because it is not customary to know English in Russia. The last part of the reportage consists of people in command of the mission from the highest ranks to field commanders, who (on behalf of themselves and on behalf of subordinates) read out a text of gratitude to ambulance workers, doctors, emergency response personnel and workers in the field of vital services for 6 minutes, working on the front lines of the pandemic every day.

Here, simply, introduced the trampoline and his subordinates. They are all there "without turning their heads," heads, not that rotting pendocs.

[Roman_vh]

What are you smart and attentive. This is something (s).

[Interlocutor]

Why are you so people of Our space industry do not respect.

[Roman_vh]

It seems different here, it’s just that Russian people are not respected, if not worse.