Secretive X-37B spacecraft back on ground after 7 months | Hacker News Reader

Secretive X-37B spacecraft back on ground after 7 months

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25 pointstimf9 comments

Impressive little craft; much more advanced than anything NASA has at the moment.

I wonder if there's anything other than politics (the X-37 being an abandoned NASA project) stopping NASA from calling up Boeing and putting in an order for half a dozen of these to replace the shuttle fleet.

Well, they're not quite a perfect replacement for the shuttle. Namely, there's no spot for a person to sit. And no windows.

Based on its size (http://en.valka.cz/attachments/14253/1275326063_h_x37_mojave...) there would have to be enough room inside for a couple of people. Not nearly the interior space of a shuttle, of course, but it'd have to be better than a Gemini capsule. As for windows? Meh, luxury!

I have to admit, though, it's smaller than I thought it was when I wrote my original comment. I had this confused with another one of NASA's experimental spaceplanes.

Humans take up more than the physical space required by their bodies. All the life support systems end up being considerably larger (and more importantly, heavier) than just the meat payload.

Lack of life support systems and 1/6th the length (guessing at < 3% the usable volume) suggests minimal overlap with space shuttle mission requirements.

It might make a good substitute for the ISS for housing small automated science modules. (ISS may be deorbited in 2015, or maybe 2020 or maybe…)

I suspect its actual use will most definitely NOT be the militarization of space. The weapons platform will be deorbited from the transport vehicle before commencing lethal operations.

That and perhaps the nil crew capacity and tiny payload.

Nothing at all. Assuming that NASA is ok with replacing human astronauts on orbit with cardboard standees in hard vacuum, since none of these craft have life-support capabilities.

I'm sure NASA would be just fine sending up a couple of their Robotnaut modules. This could actually provide a viable alternative for satellite/space station repair in lieu of manned shuttle flights. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yadj3asTyc0

I guess it depends on whether the DoD wants to open it up to NASA. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_X-37. And to be fair, NASA did have a hand in its development prior to 2004.

I don't think it would make sense to use it to replace the launching payloads and humans role of the shuttle. Since the X-37 needs a DeltaIV to launch it. Easier to just put the payload or a CEV on an expendable launch vehicle (Delta IV, Falcon 9, etc).

On the other hand it seems purpose-built for a science experiment platform, and possibly for robotic repair. NASA would do well to buy some for its science directorate. NOAA would also benefit from the chance to test their sensors on-orbit before integrating their big, expensive, weather satellites.

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