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The best publicly available evidence suggests that X-37B is practically useless, but storing it in orbit looks better than leaving it parked in a hangar on the
by ncmncm 4y ago
The best publicly available evidence suggests that X-37B is practically useless, but storing it in orbit looks better than leaving it parked in a hangar on the ground. They can pretend it is on "a mission".
Whatever instruments it is "testing" clearly could as well have been lofted without the X-37B attached, for less money, as for STS payloads. I.e., instead of X-37B, wrap in a fairing and disposable insertion-burn rocket atop rather smaller booster.
- duxup 4y ago> The best publicly available evidence suggests that X-37B is practically useless Got some links that we can read on that?
- ncmncm 4y agoYou have already read all you need: reusable launch carrier being reused extremely rarely. An experimental vehicle turning out impractical is absolutely normal. Usefulness is exceptional. (Even the SR-71 / YF-12 was scrapped. The Space Shuttle was scrapped, not soon enough.) But scheming to keep a program running anyway is extremely common. (E.g., again, Space Shuttle. And now STS.) Coolness (e.g. SR-71) is an inadequate substitute. It takes solid evidence to demonstrate usefulness. In its entire absence, the correct conclusion is obvious.
- _kbh_ 4y agoTo be fair the SR-71 was scrapped after being in service for 35 years, a point at which there where already multiple different much cheaper and usable alternatives.
- ncmncm 4y agoSR-71 was awesome, but its reason for existing evaporated. Once it became easy to hit with a missile it could no longer be sent on the missions it had been uniquely qualified for.
- magicalhippo 4y ago> The best publicly available evidence suggests that X-37B is practically useless If it's supposed to do something secret, then surely that's the best possible outcome for those trying to hide what it can do? This made me want to go watch Conspiracy Theory[1] again... [1]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118883/ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118883/
- ncmncm 4y agoYes, classifying useless programs is a time-honored way to hide them from budget scrutiny. You can always insist that their usefulness is itself classified. But the rest of us can sometimes conclude correctly by what cannot be hidden. They could ape usefulness by landing and launching it frequently, but at even greater cost.
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- frostburg 4y agoI assume that this at very least tests reliability of the deorbiting and landing systems.
- lowbloodsugar 4y agoNot very often, if it's been in space for 770 days.
- bergenty 4y agoThey’re sure testing longevity well.
- ncmncm 4y agoLongevity is the least interesting quality of a re-usable spacecraft. We have six decades' experience keeping spacecraft on long orbital, and even trans-planetary, flights working. If testing longevity is any significant use of X-37B, that is another way of saying it is useless.
- axg11 4y agoThe best publicly available information just isn’t very good. We can speculate on the purpose of the X-37B programme but we won’t know for sure, perhaps for decades.
- ncmncm 4y agoThat is how they like it: "Pay up and don't ask questions. Trust us." That has turned out badly more often than not.
- samstave 4y ago>>The best publicly available evidence suggests that X-37B is practically useless, but storing it in orbit looks better than leaving it So what if the X37B was MEANT to be 'stored' in orbit, but with the ability to payload swap/mate with a transitioning suppy X37B drone. To update HW, grab Payload, media, swap even entirety of self... and send the earlier version home? Also, if we are familiar with the orbitals of it, do we have any idea at what its orbital levels and trajectories are? Has anyone ever captured one on telescope-cam?
- ncmncm 4y agoOf course its orbital maneuvers are a matter of public record. If it was "meant" to be stored in orbit, that is another way of saying it is useless as something that was sold as re-usable.
- smeagull 4y agoIf you wanted satellites hidden at orbits nobody knew, then having this as a delivery platform seems ideal. Who knows at what point in its orbit payloads get detached?
- ncmncm 4y agoIts orbit payloads are seen to have been detached at the point where two satellites are found where one was. The only short-term uncertainty will be which was the X-37B, but that will quickly become evident.