Unidentified Flying American Object X-37B

American experts today are actively working on the project of the unmanned shuttle X-37B. It is reported that at the moment the shuttle is preparing for the third mission (OTV-3). This mission will be carried out in October. I would like to consider the mission in detail, but, for obvious reasons, the work is carried out in the strictest secrecy, reports Cnews.ru.

It is planned to launch the shuttle X-37B on board the Atlas-5 launch vehicle. Start should happen from the spaceport in Florida. While the exact launch date is not disclosed, because, as reported by the American side, there may be changes related to weather conditions and the results of the preparation of the start.

There is no information about how long the launch of the shuttle X-37B will have.

Today there are versions that the mission may well not be near-earth. This version is pushed by the results of experiments, during which a record of the duration of the mission was recorded. The record was 469 days. This value is quite acceptable in order to use the shuttle when studying other celestial bodies of the solar system.

It is known that the American-made space object of the Mars Science Laboratory, which managed to lower the Curiosity unit to Mars, flew to the Red Planet 255 day. It turns out that the supply of "strength" of the new shuttle is almost 2 times higher.
It is not entirely clear whether the X-37B shuttle will be able to beat the world record of orbital stay or not, but one thing is clear that we can expect a lot of holes in space research.

Experts say that Americans may well use their new spacecraft to destroy orbital satellites and also bombings from orbit. In addition, the special trajectory of the shuttle makes it extremely difficult to observe the object.

It is reported that X-37B has a 10-meter length, weight in 5000 kg with a wingspan of 5 m. As a means of lifting it can take on board about 0,9 tons of cargo. And this is enough to accommodate the thermo-nuclear warhead W88.

Comments

[snek]

While the exact launch date is not disclosed

There is no information about how long the launch will have.

put forward versions

Not quite clear,

Very ... informative.

can use their new spacecraft to destroy orbiting satellites

Both the Americans, and we, and even the Chinese have anti-satellite weapons, which do not need to be prepared for launch for several days.

also orbit bombing

Orbital bombardment? This is something new. Maybe soon с orbits?
Only again, ICBMs do not require a few days to prepare and are much cheaper.

[patsantre]

Quote: snek

anti-satellite weapons

I wouldn’t be so sure about it. What exactly were the weapons? I know there were ISs, but it WAS. There is no longer a long-range missile defense missile defense system in Moscow either. What kind of weapon can we shoot down at least some satellite? And the satellite is on high orbits? And the flight path of the X-37 can hardly be calculated as easily as that of a satellite.

[pinachet]

back in the late 60s, the simplest anti-satellite weapon was invented, namely, a satellite with explosives was launched and detonated where necessary, hundreds of debris on a large area destroyed everything. (China recently experienced it). Later anti-satellite missiles were developed that launched from the moment 31.
and bombing from this X-37B. the same crap that our first shuttles bought.
he spits three bombs and what? he won’t destroy the whole country, but poplars will fly back ... and not three ...

[postman]

Quote: pinachet

back in the late 60s, the simplest anti-satellite weapon was invented, namely, a satellite was launched

This is not the "simplest" thing, but the most (probably expensive), the cost of launching a Proton is here:

WITHOUT the SATELLITE. Not expensive?

Quote: pinachet

and bombing from this X-37B. the same crap that our first shuttles bought.

There is no crap. Moreover, not bombing, but just a braking impulse, and further as the descent of Gagarin.
But he (37) is certainly not for this.

[Darck]

Only again, ICBMs do not require a few days to prepare and are much cheaper.

ICBMs can be intercepted, but this drone can be in space for 469 days. It is problematic to knock it down, because it can change its orbit and detect a launch from it, they say it is not possible.

[Forward]

Unidentified flying american

This of course amused!

[Tirpitz]

but I’m not funny, because in the Russian Federation and this is not close and is not expected in the next 10-15 years.

[evgenii67]

Looks like a Russian Clipper, as far as I remember the project was closed no money left

[Insurgent]

This is exactly the clipper abandoned

[studentmati]

With the mobilization economy of the USSR, I think they would have invested in 10-15 years. With the current attitude to this topic, it’s 5-8 years longer, and that is subject to a positive conjuncture of oil prices.

[Dr.oPaSaYn]

c) how raging the statement is that in the Russian Federation this is not and is not expected in the next 10-15 years, “Buran” made unmanned on November 15, 1988. The only difference is the stay of the vehicles and the size, I think it’s worth recalling that the American shuttles can not fly in unmanned mode. How and how can one know what is in the Russian Federation if this is a secret? no one knows the exact number of tanks on ICBMs or what this suggests that our specialists work well.

[patsantre]

Quote: Dr.oPaSaYn

no one knows the exact number of tanks on ICBMs or what this suggests that our specialists work well.

These numbers are always walking on the Internet. Nobody knows the number of ICBMs? Yes, Americans know about this in the first place, but do you know from whom? From ours. What kind of specialists are we talking about?
Buran was developed in the USSR, but now we don’t have it, and they don’t promise it, so Tirpitz said everything correctly, firstly. Secondly, technology has reached a new level in 24 years. While ours were engaged in privatization and sawed the army, the Americans We continued to develop science. And there really is nothing for us to answer to the X-37. Moreover, Buran is an analogue of the space shuttle, but not the X-37.

[postman]

Quote: Dr.oPaSaYn

Buran "committed unmanned November 15, 1988

Buran is a purely civilian object (if you do not consider the possibility of satellite output).
Oxygen+ Kerosene, Hydrogen+Oxygen.
Ales, there is no military use, no efficiency.

Quote: Dr.oPaSaYn

I think it’s worth recalling that American shuttles cannot fly in unmanned mode

But this is not from their stupidity. just the shuttles flew with the CREW, we are without.
US construction sight for bombing from the Second World War

Recall where they invented a computer, OS, software, Windows and IOs, programming languages ​​finally?

[Vitmir]

And how pseudo-patriotic statements like that allegedly "American shuttles cannot fly in unmanned mode" are enraging.
The X-37B shuttle just flies only in automatic mode.

[nic]

"Spiral - Max" is only American?

[Kir]

And it seems to me much more interesting the question, how many of our former ones are there !!! I will not be very surprised if the same heat protection "ours boiled over", and our "brains" could well have taken part!

[snek]

Why do they need our thermal protection when they have their own?

[Kir]

Compare at least Buranovskaya and Shatlov! Not to mention the "glazing" of our "shuttle"

[postman]

Quote: Kir

I will be surprised if the same heat protection "uvarovannaya ours"

Shuttle drawings and photographs were first obtained in the USSR through the GRU in early 1975
Columbia was built in 1979

“Buran” completed its first and only space flight on November 15, 1988.

[916-th]

Author: Today there are versions that the mission may well be not near-missed. This version is pushed by the results of experiments during which a record of the duration of the mission was recorded. The record was 469 days. This value is quite acceptable in order to use the shuttle in the study of other celestial bodies of the solar system.

Here the author is clearly not on friendly terms with common sense and understanding of the subject of the article, since he sends to other planets an apparatus "sharpened" for solving near-earth orbital problems!

To understand these tasks, I would pay attention to such features of the X-37B:
- duration of autonomous stay in orbit
- ability to maneuver in orbit over a wide range
- relatively small payload mass
- unmanned and recoverable vehicle.

All this reminds me of atmospheric UAVs, but already launched into space. Now atmospheric UAVs solve two groups of tasks - reconnaissance and strike. X-37B as a drummer is doubtful - the weight of the load is too small. But here's how reconnaissance UAVs - that’s it. Hence the secrecy of flight programs. Obviously, it contains some kind of arch-secret and super expensive equipment that the Yankees do not want to lose by placing on disposable satellites.

How would it land somewhere in the vast expanses of Russia or Kazakhstan? Military Hackers - AU-U!

[wax]

This is an attack weapon. Such a ship may well disable all the devices of our orbital group in a relatively short time. The secret is most likely the presence of a power plant, a processor and software for capturing the target and controlling the movement of satellites, a guidance system, in the future, a cannon (electromagnetic or laser pulse) to destroy the critical for the survivability of the satellite electronics. Or maybe what the hell is not joking, and to intervene in controlling the equipment of satellites (then the gun will not be needed).

[El13]

Quote: Wax

Such a ship may well disable all the devices of our orbital group in a relatively short time.

Can you imagine the energy costs (in fuel, that is, the ejected mass, and not in kilowatts) to jump from orbit to orbit, and even synchronize the phase of the orbit? Well, he can "visit" one satellite, but already on the second "he will be blown away".

[postman]

Quote: El13

Well, he can "visit" one satellite, but already on the second "he will be blown away".

Well, not quite like that.
Can:
1.Use "solar wind"
2.Can be used ionic
3.can be used to "dive" into the upper atmosphere, bounce and change the parameters of the orbit

[studentmati]

The main problem of our cosmonautics is that sovereign people think that there is Russian cosmonautics. In the USSR, Cosmonautics was. In Russia, they continue to work, or rather reach out to the poor, romantics until retirement.

[Van]

In a word, it’s necessary to track this crap somehow and arrange a meeting with some sort of accidentally out of order satellite.

And about the difficulty of detecting it, even the smallest particles in space, which for one reason or another threaten the ISS orbital station, detect the same thing, and I think this device can be tracked or not?

[studentmati]

Of course, you can track, but to predict further movement is already more difficult. As I understand it.

[studentmati]

In general, I personally liked the device - both structurally and technologically and in terms of operation. The fact that both launches lasted a long time and were trouble-free is already saying a lot. I want to cry that we don’t have one.

[gregor6549]

Our company NPO Agat (Minsk) also took part in the Buran program and, together with the St. Petersburg residents, developed the Burana ground-based automatic approach and landing system. "Buran" itself was developed and made by one of the Moscow firms under the leadership of Lozino Lozinsky. The very first flight of Buran proved the efficiency of all elements of the system, both ground-based and space. Americans never dreamed of such a level of automation of control processes in such systems. Their entire emphasis was on manual control. Buran's capabilities were enormous both in terms of space exploration and in terms of use for military purposes, in particular as a reconnaissance strike unmanned space complex, which could not only see well targets on Earth, in the sea and aerospace and hit them, but also fight back from anti-satellite systems. Those. Buran was an excellent platform for reconnaissance equipment and weapons of destruction, including laser weapons such as those currently flown on Boeing. And although SDI as a whole was a bluff, some of its elements were quite real and remain so. Naturally, such a "drone" was included in the list of the most serious threats to the enemy and he, like other similar threats (CC20, BZHRK, etc.), tried to eliminate on the vine before ..... for that a separate "thank you" very individual comrades of the era of perestroika and the subsequent era of skirmishes.

[postman]

Quote: gregor6549

Our company NPO Agat (Minsk)

As a branch research institute, the story of "Agat" (UP NIISA) is silent about this.
http://www.agat.by/company/history/
And here is a list of RESEARCH AND PRODUCTION ASSOCIATIONS and DESIGN BUREAUES, theme "Buran"

Quote: gregor6549

am "Buran" was developed and made by one of the Moscow firms under the leadership of Lozino Lozinsky.

Again not true (developers in the table) Manufacturers here:

Quote: gregor6549

Americans did not even dream of such a level of automation of control processes in such systems.

Do not make me laugh. Look at your PC, keyboard, mouse, printer, software.
I saw Pravets in 1989, and before that everything was on CM-4.

Quote: gregor6549

in particular as a reconnaissance strike unmanned space system,

"Buran" as a reconnaissance complex - 0, shock, the same.
Reusable vehicle (Capsule, case), for payload: withdrawal and return.

[gregor6549]

The official history of NGO Agat does not cover all aspects of its activities. In particular, among other things, NPO Agat was engaged in the development and production of air traffic control systems, and one of the branches of this direction was the development, together with one of the St. Petersburg companies, of the ground part of the Buran approach and landing control system. This time. And two. Indeed, in the part of the computer, etc. high-tech equipment of the USSR then lagged behind the United States for many years, but at the same time it managed to solve all the tasks set by the customer, even if for solving these tasks it was necessary to use several times larger amounts of equipment than the state employees used. But in terms of the technical ideology of the USSR, it was often ahead of the States for many years, as the Americans themselves have repeatedly admitted.In the USA, after all, they do not like to take risks and prefer to use, where possible, proven technical solutions and equipment that can be bought without any problems on the Western market. The USSR did not have such a freebie and had to do everything by itself. And this sometimes led to such breakthroughs that the Americans just gasped. True, at the same time, there was usually no time for detailed development of those solutions and sometimes it was necessary to launch raw products into production and then refine them for a long time in parts. And the last thing. Buran's potential was quite enough for solving many tasks, including reconnaissance and strike, launching satellites into orbit, and much more. Moreover, both in manned and automatic mode.

[Vitmir]

Preved, neighbor! NPO Agat and NPO Granat - stages in the Minsk labor activity.

[gregor6549]

Hi colleague.

[Alex-UA]

I remember how everything flared in Russia, near Ryazan the train of our friends stood for 2 days, and in Ukraine it was much farther south, fire hazardous, it somehow didn’t and this infection just flew.