Given what we know of the X37's specifications, could you quick-reaction launch an X37 atop an all-solid LV like Minotaur-IV/V or Athena-III?
Quote from: edkyle99 on 06/18/2012 01:25 amI've been wondering about the post-landing center of gravity, based on the landing gear location. I would have expected more mass on the back end, where the engine is located. - Ed KyleHey Ed!We have to remember we are dealing with an aircraft in atmospheric flight (not a rocket) in landing, so cg is forward of center of lift. Hence the main gear is located about the center of lift (or just rear of). As you need to increase AoA at landing as lift decreases allowing a de-rotate and slapdown.~Roberthttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/trim.html
I've been wondering about the post-landing center of gravity, based on the landing gear location. I would have expected more mass on the back end, where the engine is located. - Ed Kyle
Quote from: Rocket Science on 06/19/2012 02:23 pmQuote from: edkyle99 on 06/18/2012 01:25 amI've been wondering about the post-landing center of gravity, based on the landing gear location. I would have expected more mass on the back end, where the engine is located. - Ed KyleHey Ed!We have to remember we are dealing with an aircraft in atmospheric flight (not a rocket) in landing, so cg is forward of center of lift. Hence the main gear is located about the center of lift (or just rear of). As you need to increase AoA at landing as lift decreases allowing a de-rotate and slapdown.~Roberthttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/trim.htmlThanks, Robert. It looks like X-37B has a CG substantially further forward than Shuttle orbiters, based on percent of total body length. - Ed Kyle
Another X-37B writeup: China May Be Suspicious of US Air Force's X-37B Space Plane
. A vehicle like the X-37 makes sense as an upper stage for such a reusable launch system.
The goal of the X-37 is reusability.
Quote from: vulture4 on 07/07/2012 08:24 pmThe goal of the X-37 is reusability.Not true
Quote from: Jim on 07/07/2012 11:17 pmQuote from: vulture4 on 07/07/2012 08:24 pmThe goal of the X-37 is reusability.Not trueWikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_X-37"The Boeing X-37 (also known as the X-37 Orbital Test Vehicle) is an American reusable unmanned spacecraft."
But note that several years into this program, nothing about the spacecraft itself has, as yet, actually been reused as far as I can tell. Maybe the payload is the real thing being reused. Or maybe, as Jim hints, reuse is a ruse. - Ed Kyle
Quick brain fart question, is the OTV designation for the mission or the vehicle. ie. Will the next launch be OTV-3, or will it be OTV-1 flight 2?
Quote from: kevin-rf on 07/09/2012 02:17 pmQuick brain fart question, is the OTV designation for the mission or the vehicle. ie. Will the next launch be OTV-3, or will it be OTV-1 flight 2?OTV-3 is the mission designation, and it will be a re-flight of the first airframe.
Looking back at various quotes from Air Force and Boeing officials, I find that both typically say that X-37B, especially OTV-2, is a technology demonstrator for reusable space vehicle technologies. Boeing noted that the demonstration was for "affordable" reusability, while the Air Force said that the return capability was important for low-risk testing of new technologies. But note that several years into this program, nothing about the spacecraft itself has, as yet, actually been reused as far as I can tell. Maybe the payload is the real thing being reused. Or maybe, as Jim hints, reuse is a ruse. - Ed Kyle