SpaceX launches U.S. Air Force's X-37B super-secret space shuttle

spaminator

spaminator

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SpaceX launches U.S. Air Force's X-37B super-secret space shuttle
Marcia Dunn, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
First posted: Thursday, September 07, 2017 10:14 AM EDT | Updated: Thursday, September 07, 2017 10:27 AM EDT
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX has launched the Air Force’s super-secret space shuttle.
An unmanned Falcon rocket blasted off Thursday from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center. It’s the fifth flight for one of these crewless mini shuttles, known as the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle.
The two Air Force space planes have already logged a combined 5 1/2 years in orbit. But officials won’t say what the spacecraft are doing up there. The last mission lasted almost two years and ended with a May touchdown at the runway formerly used by NASA’s space shuttles.
As usual, SpaceX aims to land its leftover booster back at Cape Canaveral for eventual reuse.
This is the first time SpaceX has provided a lift for the experimental mini-shuttle.
In this image released by the US Air Force, the Air Force's X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle mission 4 lands at NASA 's Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility in Florida, on May 7, 2017. (Handout/US Air Force)

[youtube]9M6Zvi-fFv4[/youtube]
SpaceX launches U.S. Air Force's X-37B super-secret space shuttle | Discovery |
 
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Gilgamesh

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Nov 15, 2014
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spaminator said:
SpaceX launches U.S. Air Force's X-37B super-secret space shuttle
Marcia Dunn, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
First posted: Thursday, September 07, 2017 10:14 AM EDT | Updated: Thursday, September 07, 2017 10:27 AM EDT
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX has launched the Air Force’s super-secret space shuttle.
An unmanned Falcon rocket blasted off Thursday from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center. It’s the fifth flight for one of these crewless mini shuttles, known as the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle.
The two Air Force space planes have already logged a combined 5 1/2 years in orbit. But officials won’t say what the spacecraft are doing up there. The last mission lasted almost two years and ended with a May touchdown at the runway formerly used by NASA’s space shuttles.
As usual, SpaceX aims to land its leftover booster back at Cape Canaveral for eventual reuse.
This is the first time SpaceX has provided a lift for the experimental mini-shuttle.
In this image released by the US Air Force, the Air Force's X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle mission 4 lands at NASA 's Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility in Florida, on May 7, 2017. (Handout/US Air Force)

[youtube]9M6Zvi-fFv4[/youtube]
SpaceX launches U.S. Air Force's X-37B super-secret space shuttle | Discovery |
Click to expand...
Fascinating. A shuttle that can cold-soak in space for a year & still function! That alone is a huge leap in technology.
 
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Gilgamesh

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Nov 15, 2014
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Since only a full vote of both houses in Congress can initiate the creation of any new branch of the military this is all moot.

I am puzzled as to why you find the creation of a Space Force to be snickered at.

You would probably have ridiculed the creation of an airforce in the early 20th century.

"Them goldurn heavier-than-air flying machines will never amount to nothin', nohow, no time.
 
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Curious Cdn

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Gilgamesh said:
Since only a full vote of both houses in Congress can initiate the creation of any new branch of the military this is all moot.

I am puzzled as to why you find the creation of a Space Force to be snickered at.

You would probably have ridiculed the creation of an airforce in the early 20th century.

"Them goldurn heavier-than-air flying machines will never amount to nothin', nohow, no time.
Click to expand...

 
EagleSmack

EagleSmack

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Gilgamesh said:
Since only a full vote of both houses in Congress can initiate the creation of any new branch of the military this is all moot.

I am puzzled as to why you find the creation of a Space Force to be snickered at.

You would probably have ridiculed the creation of an airforce in the early 20th century.

"Them goldurn heavier-than-air flying machines will never amount to nothin', nohow, no time.
Click to expand...

You know why I am snickering? Because I drew you out.
 
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Curious Cdn

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Feb 22, 2015
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MHz said:
Tow-truck for the electric car they released awhile back.


You've had that condition for a few years.
Click to expand...

That's the sound emitted by his two functioning neurons trying to communicate with each other.
 
EagleSmack

EagleSmack

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What can I say?

I found his rant in the other Space Force thread amusing. Carrying on as if Trump created the "Space Force" instead of simply announcing a proposal to do so.

So I cast my line and he could not resist.
 
Tecumsehsbones

Tecumsehsbones

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Mar 18, 2013
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Gilgamesh said:
Since only a full vote of both houses in Congress can initiate the creation of any new branch of the military this is all moot.

I am puzzled as to why you find the creation of a Space Force to be snickered at.

You would probably have ridiculed the creation of an airforce in the early 20th century.

"Them goldurn heavier-than-air flying machines will never amount to nothin', nohow, no time.
Click to expand...

Um. . . because having a space force when you can't even get a human to LEO is like having an air force equipped with buckboard wagons?
 
White_Unifier

White_Unifier

Senate Member
Feb 21, 2017
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I'm reading about a 'super-secret' space shuttle on canadiancontent.net.

Does anyone else see something odd about that?
 
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