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The X-37B operates in GEO, which is the only hint we need. Missions objectives will include satellite inspection, signal interception, and (unacknowledged) tam
by schiffern 3y ago
The X-37B operates in GEO, which is the only hint we need.
Missions objectives will include satellite inspection, signal interception, and (unacknowledged) tampering / destruction.
Payloads will be geared for medium-range surveillance (small telescope for optical/thermal imaging at a couple hundred km), ELINT (radios and antennas for snooping / hacking), and probably a manipulator arm or two to "reach out and touch someone."
They probably have some sort of kinetic and/or electronic pulse weapons, but of course it would be highly classified and deniable.
Missions are 100% unmanned. I'd argue that's the whole point of the X-37B program: to develop technology to perform ~all the classified mission capabilities we could do with Shuttle, except unmanned.
- zitterbewegung 3y agoI would think that the Mission objectives are broader than that in you can basically swap out any mission payload that would be too costly to launch and develop a whole satellite for and task it quickly.
- morkalork 3y agoSo... not the totally innocent "next gen technology testing platform" as often claimed, eh?
- T-A 3y ago> The X-37B operates in GEO So far it hasn't. Out of the six missions so far [1], the highest one only reached altitude 404 km [2]: [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_X-37#Operational_history https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_X-37#Operational_histor... [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA-299 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA-299 Edit: or maybe 444 km [3]: [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA-212#Altitude_and_ground_track_resonance_history https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA-212#Altitude_and_ground_tr...
- schiffern 3y agoThanks for the correction. I had it confused with the GSSAP birds.[0] Mission and payload is still basically the same, but targeting LEO spy satellites. Russia has similar aspirations (and probably capabilities).[1,2] [0] https://breakingdefense.com/2022/01/space-force-plans-multiple-hosted-payloads-for-geo-belt-monitoring/ https://breakingdefense.com/2022/01/space-force-plans-multip... [1] https://time.com/5779315/russian-spacecraft-spy-satellite-space-force/ https://time.com/5779315/russian-spacecraft-spy-satellite-sp... [2] https://npolicy.org/securing-our-military-satellites-against-shadowing-spacecraft/ https://npolicy.org/securing-our-military-satellites-against...
- wkat4242 3y agoThe shuttle could take a whole satellite in its payload bay and bring it back. Obviously the X-37B will never be able to do that simply because it's so much smaller. I don't think it'll have the same capabilities or even the same goals as the shuttle.
- ge96 3y agoSemi tangent, the MKV thing is so rad, I don't understand how it kills ballistic missiles but yeah -- I thought this thing was supposed to operate in space. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBMU6l6GsdM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBMU6l6GsdM