The unmanned American X-37B vehicle has been in orbit for more than 600 days.
The secret American unmanned aerial vehicle X-37B has been in space for more than 600 days. At the same time, the mission that this device performs is still unknown, and during the time that the device is in space, it could fly to Mars with a scientific mission and go back, landing at a conventional aerodrome. According to mission member Joan Johnson-Fries, the US Air Force continues to test, trying to go beyond the boundaries of the possible with its X-37B spacecraft, working on solar energy.
The US Air Force sent this mini-shuttle to Earth orbit for another 11 December 2012 of the year. The device was launched into space using the Atlas 5 launch vehicle. The launches are carried out from Cape Canaveral in Florida, the device is launched into space, being in a special protective capsule. On 8 September 2014, the unmanned spacecraft has been in orbit for 636 days, which is 1 year 8 months and 28 days, to be exact. This result is a record among all reusable spacecraft for the entire history their existence.
Of course, there are spacecraft in the Earth’s orbit, which can be in space for many years, for example, numerous navigation satellites or the ISS. But so far there has not been a single reusable one, that is, capable of making several flights into orbit of an apparatus that could stay there for so long. The space shuttles used by the United States could be offline for a maximum of two weeks in space. In turn, the reusable space shuttle, which very much resembles a smaller version of the shuttle, is in space for more than 600 days.
At present, the first prototype of the X-37B spacecraft, which has already managed to go there earlier, is in space. He made his first flight in 2010, the spacecraft was in orbit from April 22 to December 3 2010. By sending a spacecraft into orbit, the US Air Force and the Boeing development company wanted to test the suitability of this kind of unmanned aerial vehicles for multiple use, and also to prove the possibility of relatively inexpensive launching of various payloads into orbit. The second flight of this program took place on 5 March 2011 of the year and lasted until 16 June 2012, then the second X-37B was sent to space.
The space unmanned vehicle X-37B has a length of 8,8 meter, its wingspan is 4,5 meter. The take-off mass of the apparatus, which is able to return from orbit and land in an aircraft-based manner, is approximately 5 tons. The spaceship is able to fly at altitudes from 200 to 750 km. The device is able to quickly change the flight orbit, as well as maneuver. To ensure high maneuverability, the ship is equipped with a wing and tail, which consists of two all-turning planes.
It is curious that earlier the military said that the estimated duration of the apparatus in orbit was only 270 days. The mini-shuttle has an internal compartment to accommodate various payloads - its length is about two meters, width - about a meter. X-37B is an unmanned vehicle that is equipped with a folding solar panels. It is the solar panels that provide power to the systems and components of the spacecraft, as well as its payload during long-term stay in space. According to unconfirmed information, in the future, such devices can be used to solve reconnaissance tasks.
The program to create a flying laboratory, which received the designation X-37, originates in July 14 1999, when a contract was signed with the corporation Boeing totaling 173 million dollars. The customer of this project was the space agency NASA. At this stage the project was civil. Announcements at the conclusion of the agreement the purpose of the development of the spacecraft involved the development and testing of more 40 new technologies in the field of propulsion systems, design, operation methods. In the future, project work should have contributed to the development of cheaper and reliable fully reusable launch vehicles. Initially, it was reported that the main functions of the device will be delivery to orbit of various payloads.
However, after the start of work, the customer was changed, the true reasons for which are still unknown. Perhaps the military "took away" the project from civilians on their own initiative, while the civil department could lose interest in the project due to cuts in funding. Anyway, the project was transferred from the Marshall Space Flight Center (NASA) to the Agency for Advanced Defense Research and Development (DAPRA). After the transfer of the project under the wing of the US Department of Defense, all the main aspects of this program, ranging from technical information, goals of creation and ending with the funding of work, were completely classified.
The objectives of the X-37B spacecraft stay in orbit are still unknown. Certainly, the flight is experimental and important in itself, but whether he has any other goals, besides checking the equipment and systems of the spacecraft, nobody can say. Many experts are inclined to believe that the X-37B has a payload in the form of a powerful optical tracking system. In addition, the dimensions of the existing cargo compartment can accommodate even several nuclear warheads or other weaponsFor example, promising hypersonic bombs. Currently, the US Air Force has two similar experimental mini-shuttles capable of flying. The ships have already conducted two missions in orbit: OTV-1 - the duration of 225 days, OTV-2 - the duration - 469 days. Currently the mission of OTV-3 is underway, which has not yet been completed and it has been going on for 636 days.
Currently, Boeing is rebuilding the former Space Shuttle OPF-1 service center into a structure that can, according to company representatives, “provide landing, recovery process and re-launch into the X-37B shuttle space”. It is reported that the conversion process will be completed in the second quarter of next year. Thanks to this, the X-37B program can not only be continued, but also expanded. Relatively small and inexpensive spacecraft can be considered as effective means of conducting reconnaissance and bombers, which are able to deliver high-precision quick strikes on territories that are covered by powerful air defense systems.
According to other experts, another plausible option for using the X-37B spacecraft may be the interceptor function, which is able to inspect foreign space objects and, if necessary, destroy them with the help of kinetic effects. This X-37B designation would be consistent with the US National Space Policy adopted in 2006, according to which Washington reserves the right to partially extend its sovereignty to near-Earth space.
Information sources:
http://zoom.cnews.ru/rnd/article/item/bespilotnyj_shattl_x37b_na_orbite_uzhe_600_sutok
http://vpk.name/news/107881_kosmicheskii_bespilotnik_x37b_provel_na_orbite_bolshe_470_sutok.html
http://www.buran.ru/htm/x-37b.htm
http://www.infuture.ru/article/11683
The US Air Force sent this mini-shuttle to Earth orbit for another 11 December 2012 of the year. The device was launched into space using the Atlas 5 launch vehicle. The launches are carried out from Cape Canaveral in Florida, the device is launched into space, being in a special protective capsule. On 8 September 2014, the unmanned spacecraft has been in orbit for 636 days, which is 1 year 8 months and 28 days, to be exact. This result is a record among all reusable spacecraft for the entire history their existence.
Of course, there are spacecraft in the Earth’s orbit, which can be in space for many years, for example, numerous navigation satellites or the ISS. But so far there has not been a single reusable one, that is, capable of making several flights into orbit of an apparatus that could stay there for so long. The space shuttles used by the United States could be offline for a maximum of two weeks in space. In turn, the reusable space shuttle, which very much resembles a smaller version of the shuttle, is in space for more than 600 days.
At present, the first prototype of the X-37B spacecraft, which has already managed to go there earlier, is in space. He made his first flight in 2010, the spacecraft was in orbit from April 22 to December 3 2010. By sending a spacecraft into orbit, the US Air Force and the Boeing development company wanted to test the suitability of this kind of unmanned aerial vehicles for multiple use, and also to prove the possibility of relatively inexpensive launching of various payloads into orbit. The second flight of this program took place on 5 March 2011 of the year and lasted until 16 June 2012, then the second X-37B was sent to space.
The space unmanned vehicle X-37B has a length of 8,8 meter, its wingspan is 4,5 meter. The take-off mass of the apparatus, which is able to return from orbit and land in an aircraft-based manner, is approximately 5 tons. The spaceship is able to fly at altitudes from 200 to 750 km. The device is able to quickly change the flight orbit, as well as maneuver. To ensure high maneuverability, the ship is equipped with a wing and tail, which consists of two all-turning planes.
It is curious that earlier the military said that the estimated duration of the apparatus in orbit was only 270 days. The mini-shuttle has an internal compartment to accommodate various payloads - its length is about two meters, width - about a meter. X-37B is an unmanned vehicle that is equipped with a folding solar panels. It is the solar panels that provide power to the systems and components of the spacecraft, as well as its payload during long-term stay in space. According to unconfirmed information, in the future, such devices can be used to solve reconnaissance tasks.
The program to create a flying laboratory, which received the designation X-37, originates in July 14 1999, when a contract was signed with the corporation Boeing totaling 173 million dollars. The customer of this project was the space agency NASA. At this stage the project was civil. Announcements at the conclusion of the agreement the purpose of the development of the spacecraft involved the development and testing of more 40 new technologies in the field of propulsion systems, design, operation methods. In the future, project work should have contributed to the development of cheaper and reliable fully reusable launch vehicles. Initially, it was reported that the main functions of the device will be delivery to orbit of various payloads.
However, after the start of work, the customer was changed, the true reasons for which are still unknown. Perhaps the military "took away" the project from civilians on their own initiative, while the civil department could lose interest in the project due to cuts in funding. Anyway, the project was transferred from the Marshall Space Flight Center (NASA) to the Agency for Advanced Defense Research and Development (DAPRA). After the transfer of the project under the wing of the US Department of Defense, all the main aspects of this program, ranging from technical information, goals of creation and ending with the funding of work, were completely classified.
The objectives of the X-37B spacecraft stay in orbit are still unknown. Certainly, the flight is experimental and important in itself, but whether he has any other goals, besides checking the equipment and systems of the spacecraft, nobody can say. Many experts are inclined to believe that the X-37B has a payload in the form of a powerful optical tracking system. In addition, the dimensions of the existing cargo compartment can accommodate even several nuclear warheads or other weaponsFor example, promising hypersonic bombs. Currently, the US Air Force has two similar experimental mini-shuttles capable of flying. The ships have already conducted two missions in orbit: OTV-1 - the duration of 225 days, OTV-2 - the duration - 469 days. Currently the mission of OTV-3 is underway, which has not yet been completed and it has been going on for 636 days.
Currently, Boeing is rebuilding the former Space Shuttle OPF-1 service center into a structure that can, according to company representatives, “provide landing, recovery process and re-launch into the X-37B shuttle space”. It is reported that the conversion process will be completed in the second quarter of next year. Thanks to this, the X-37B program can not only be continued, but also expanded. Relatively small and inexpensive spacecraft can be considered as effective means of conducting reconnaissance and bombers, which are able to deliver high-precision quick strikes on territories that are covered by powerful air defense systems.
According to other experts, another plausible option for using the X-37B spacecraft may be the interceptor function, which is able to inspect foreign space objects and, if necessary, destroy them with the help of kinetic effects. This X-37B designation would be consistent with the US National Space Policy adopted in 2006, according to which Washington reserves the right to partially extend its sovereignty to near-Earth space.
Information sources:
http://zoom.cnews.ru/rnd/article/item/bespilotnyj_shattl_x37b_na_orbite_uzhe_600_sutok
http://vpk.name/news/107881_kosmicheskii_bespilotnik_x37b_provel_na_orbite_bolshe_470_sutok.html
http://www.buran.ru/htm/x-37b.htm
http://www.infuture.ru/article/11683
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