LIVE: Atlas V - X37B Flight 2 - Cape Canaveral - March 5, 2011

[Comga]

X-37B spacecraft may continue to circle Earth, experts say

Same article but I love the title. (from the AIA daily lead)
"May continue to circle"  Ya think?
As a very special extension of Newton's first law, things in orbit tend to stay in orbit.

[kevin-rf]

I just love how they state as fact that the extra long flight is because it is an endurance test.

How about the option of what ever data it is collecting and or returning is more important to the end user than returning the X-37 to it's owner (who may or may not be the same entity) in a timely manner?

And if you thought late rental car return fee's where bad...

[DeanG1967]

As a very special extension of Newton's first law, things in orbit tend to stay in orbit.

Unless it is Phobes-Grunt

[Prober]

any landing date yet?

[rdale]

No. Keep an eye on this thread, if it is announced it will be posted here.

[baldusi]

any landing date yet?

I think it will stay up to check the next Tiangong docking. 

[Mapperuo]

any landing date yet?

I think it will stay up to check the next Tiangong docking. 

Don't start, The BBC will write another article on it. 

[yinzer]

Is it still maneuvering? An extended stay could also be explained by a failure of some sort - say a flat MLG tire - that would make a successful landing very unlikely...

[Ben the Space Brit]

I read somewhere that there was to be a third flight.  Is that still the plan? If so, when?

[DeanG1967]

2 days until her 1 year anniversary on orbit

[Paul Adams]

2 days until her 1 year anniversary on orbit

WOW!

[js117]

Here is a articale on that very subject.

http://www.space-travel.com/reports/What_Next_for_X_37B_999.html

[Comga]

Here is a articale on that very subject.

http://www.space-travel.com/reports/What_Next_for_X_37B_999.html

That article is particularly information-free.
It's still up there.  It could stay there.  It could come down at some point.  The Air Force is watching what is happening, they suppose.  No discussion of life limits or potential issues preventing landing.

When was the last time the X37B changed its orbit?

[Prober]

Here is a articale on that very subject.

http://www.space-travel.com/reports/What_Next_for_X_37B_999.html

That article is particularly information-free.
It's still up there.  It could stay there.  It could come down at some point.  The Air Force is watching what is happening, they suppose.  No discussion of life limits or potential issues preventing landing.

When was the last time the X37B changed its orbit?

I used to watch it close and it doesn't change.  My guess is it would only use fuel to maintain status.

My thinking of late regarding the X37B, is that it has become "expendable".  The payload kept in orbit is more important until the replacement(s) can be launched.   

But what do I know?

[Comga]

Here is a articale on that very subject.

http://www.space-travel.com/reports/What_Next_for_X_37B_999.html

That article is particularly information-free.
It's still up there.  It could stay there.  It could come down at some point.  The Air Force is watching what is happening, they suppose.  No discussion of life limits or potential issues preventing landing.

When was the last time the X37B changed its orbit?

I used to watch it close and it doesn't change.  My guess is it would only use fuel to maintain status.

My thinking of late regarding the X37B, is that it has become "expendable".  The payload kept in orbit is more important until the replacement(s) can be launched.   

But what do I know?

None of us know, but that's an interesting speculation.

Remember MXB?  It was a small, fixed aperture, body fixed experiment that searched for other "resident space objects".  The Air Force kept it running as long as they could, for about six years after its one year original lifetime, almost until they got an operational asset up to replace it.  It could be that whatever sensor is on board is more important than the recovered X37B would be, and/or its replacement is not ready.

Or it could be stuck, unable to return, for some reason.

[neilh]

At this point, I wonder if it's worth keeping it up there longer just to screw with foreign counter-intelligence efforts. Sure, it *probably* doesn't have a camera and/or sensor suite capable of doing recon on ground targets, but foreign counter-intelligence can't know that for certain.

[js117]

Here is a article on msn about it.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46645152#.T1asabyF8qU

Third X-37B mission reportedly being readied for possible launch later this year

[savuporo]

Yes i meant to post this here:
http://spaceports.blogspot.com/2012/03/x-37b-space-plane-game-changing-mission.html

[Prober]

Here is a article on msn about it.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46645152#.T1asabyF8qU

Third X-37B mission reportedly being readied for possible launch later this year

The more testing the better.

Have hopes the NROL launches will allow the X-37B to return soon.

That should open up some speculation.

[kevin-rf]

Have hopes the NROL launches will allow the X-37B to return soon.

That should open up some speculation.

If it fit inside the X-37B, most likely an operational system will ride up on a smaller vehicle like a Minotaur or Athena.

Even though it is the NRO, I highly doubt the NRO would require a Delta IV Heavy to launch an operational version of what ever it is has been testing

So have any new Minotaur's or Athena's been added to the books lately?