5 ms·

The body seems relatively cool compared to what I can find of the space shuttle, despite not quite knowing how long after touch-down the image was taken. I wond

The body seems relatively cool compared to what I can find of the space shuttle, despite not quite knowing how long after touch-down the image was taken. I wonder if some new heat-dissipating technology, or similar, was amongst those being tested?

TrainedMonkey 12y ago
"The US Air Force's X-37B appeared at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on 3 December 2010" Picture is from a while ago.
- drdeadringer 12y ago
  I wasn't concerned too much for publication date, but more so about the time between touch-down and the thermal camera going "click"... in terms of thermal loss comparisons to the NASA space shuttle.
  - nitrogen 12y ago
    The picture in question was from long before takeoff, let alone touchdown.
    - vilhelm_s 12y ago
      What do you base that on?
      - w-ll 12y ago
        That the photos taken at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on 3 December 2010, were taken before the ship was launched into orbit.
        zwiteof 12y ago
        Before the current mission launched. 3 December 2010 was the end date for the first mission
vilhelm_s 12y ago
So googling a bit, it seems to be a still frame from the video on this page? http://www.outlookseries.com/A0992/Security/3696_X-37B_Orbital_Test_Vehicle_OTV_Lands_Vandenberg_X-37B.htm http://www.outlookseries.com/A0992/Security/3696_X-37B_Orbit... So it's just a few seconds after touchdown.