Author Topic: X-37C: plans for a crewed version of the X-37 (Read 108368 times)

yg1968 · « **on:** 10/08/2011 01:28 am »

The plans for a crewed X-37C probably deserves a new dedicated thread.

See this article for details on the plans for a crewed X-37C:
http://www.space.com/13230-secretive-37b-space-plane-future-astronauts.html

See also these threads for previous discussions on this topic:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=23477.0
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=13914.0

docmordrid · « **Reply #1 on:** 10/08/2011 02:38 am »

Aviation Week article.....

Very interesting that the military is thinking of crewed spaceflights.

Danderman · « **Reply #2 on:** 10/08/2011 02:42 am »

from the AvWeek story:

"The X-37B evolution study, which harks back to the pre-military NASA origins of the OTV, envisages a three-phase buildup. The first would see the current 29-ft.-long vehicle used for demonstration flights to the ISS."

Now, please stop bringing up this idea of flying X-37 to ISS, as it is simply not feasible.

simonbp · « **Reply #3 on:** 10/08/2011 04:43 am »

And the space.com article has renders of the stock X-37B berthing to ISS...

spectre9 · « **Reply #4 on:** 10/08/2011 04:58 am »

Hello. I'm new here been reading for a few days and now want to join in and start posting

Seems like all the technology developed in the unmanned version would make this possible very quickly.

Could they deliver astronauts to the ISS before Dragon?

Sparky · « **Reply #5 on:** 10/08/2011 05:06 am »

Quote from: spectre9 on 10/08/2011 04:58 am

Hello. I'm new here been reading for a few days and now want to join in and start posting

Welcome!

Quote

Seems like all the technology developed in the unmanned version would make this possible very quickly.

Could they deliver astronauts to the ISS before Dragon?

No. Even if the payload capacity were increased to include adequate life support, the current X37 launches inside a closed fairing on an Atlas V. Any manned system would need to have an abort system that would allow the spacecraft to be pulled from the rocket in the event of an emergency. Such a system would take a while to develop for a crewed variant.

DeanG1967 · « **Reply #6 on:** 10/08/2011 05:30 am »

Quote from: spectre9 on 10/08/2011 04:58 am

Could they deliver astronauts to the ISS before Dragon?

Ok everyone...lets give the real answer.

Would the size of the current vehicle allow carriage of human sized cargo to the ISS? Answer is yes. You could put someone inside a X-37 right now and reach ISS (although there is no human lifesupport built into it and no docking mechanism to mate with the ISS).

What was trying to be explained above is that NASA has requirements for crew safety. Currently, one is a Launch abort system (a way to get the crew away from a failed rocket). Right now that is not available in the current X-37 launch configuration. Could it be devised? Yes, but it will take quite a bit of time.

Robotbeat · « **Reply #7 on:** 10/08/2011 05:37 am »

Quote from: DeanG1967 on 10/08/2011 05:30 am

Quote from: spectre9 on 10/08/2011 04:58 am
Could they deliver astronauts to the ISS before Dragon?

Ok everyone...lets give the real answer.

Would the size of the current vehicle allow carriage of human sized cargo to the ISS? Answer is yes. You could put someone inside a X-37 right now and reach ISS (although there is no human lifesupport built into it and no docking mechanism to mate with the ISS).

What was trying to be explained above is that NASA has requirements for crew safety. Currently, one is a Launch abort system (a way to get the crew away from a failed rocket). Right now that is not available in the current X-37 launch configuration. Could it be devised? Yes, but it will take quite a bit of time.

Could they stuff a body into the X-37 and send it to ISS before Dragon could do the same thing? Actually, no, probably not. Dragon is set to launch in just a few months (the rocket is at the pad), whereas X-37B is in orbit with a different inclination than ISS and (we can be reasonably certain) has no body stuffed into it.

They could stuff somebody inside that Dragon, and if somehow all the docking procedures were sped up (and that person had a sufficient air supply), it's theoretically possible they could reach ISS alive. It'd be absolutely crazy and stupid (on so many levels!) to do that, but in no way is X-37b closer to doing that than Dragon is.

Jason1701 · « **Reply #8 on:** 10/08/2011 05:44 am »

The attributes of the X-37 conflict almost wholly with those required of a crew-carrying spacecraft.

spectre9 · « **Reply #9 on:** 10/08/2011 08:48 am »

Thanks for the great answers guys.

That's the kind of well thought out responses you like to get.

Couldn't they just launch it without the fairing with some kind of launch escape motor on top of the nose?

I'm sick of hearing about escape system developments. Surely it's been done so much now that it doesn't take heaps of time.

Rocket Science · « **Reply #10 on:** 10/08/2011 09:38 am »

More "baby shuttles"...

arkaska · « **Reply #11 on:** 10/08/2011 10:12 am »

Even though it is unlikely this will ever come to be it would be a great addition to ISS. It will give us a way to bring up ORUs previously only the shuttle could bring up.

Jim · « **Reply #12 on:** 10/08/2011 12:17 pm »

Quote from: Danderman on 10/08/2011 02:42 am

from the AvWeek story:

"The X-37B evolution study, which harks back to the pre-military NASA origins of the OTV, envisages a three-phase buildup. The first would see the current 29-ft.-long vehicle used for demonstration flights to the ISS."

Now, please stop bringing up this idea of flying X-37 to ISS, as it is simply not feasible.

Some people believe marketing spin as gospel

HIPAR · « **Reply #13 on:** 10/08/2011 01:12 pm »

So someone climbs into it and waits while the fairings are attached. Then the Atlas rocket is rolled out to the pad and the occupant waits while everyone conducts the launch/countdown ritual. Then the launch is cancelled with four seconds on the clock. The occupant waits while the rocket is rolled back to the assembly building and the fairings are removed.

Worst than riding in a Mercury space capsule.

Phuu!

--- CHAS

Rocket Science · « **Reply #14 on:** 10/08/2011 01:19 pm »

Quote from: HIPAR on 10/08/2011 01:12 pm

So someone climbs into it and waits while the fairings are attached. Then the Atlas rocket is rolled out to the pad and the occupant waits while everyone conducts the launch/countdown ritual. Then the launch is cancelled with four seconds on the clock. The occupant waits while the rocket is rolled back to the assembly building and the fairings are removed.

Worst than riding in a Mercury space capsule.

Phuu!

--- CHAS

The "C" in the space.com link has no fairing...

Space Pete · « **Reply #15 on:** 10/08/2011 06:54 pm »

Quote from: arkaska on 10/08/2011 10:12 am

Even though it is unlikely this will ever come to be it would be a great addition to ISS. It will give us a way to bring up ORUs previously only the shuttle could bring up.

This, in my opinion, is the single biggest advantage of X-37 to ISS, since this is a unique capability that only the X-37 can offer.

Crew transport and low-G landings could be provided by the Dream Chaser, which is much further along in terms of crewed development than the X-37 is, and so I really can't see NASA or Boeing having too much drive to develop a crewed version of the X-37.

X-37, however, is the only vehicle for the foreseeable future that can provide external ORU return from the ISS (such as the PM returned on STS-135). The question is, would the "market" for external ORU return justify developing the scaled-up X-37C? Probably not, so I think that a modified X-37B might be the only X-37 we'll see going to ISS.

Jim · « **Reply #16 on:** 10/08/2011 07:32 pm »

X-37b going to ISS is almost nil

Jim · « **Reply #17 on:** 10/08/2011 07:35 pm »

Huh? Name an ORU that weighs less than 400lb. HTV and Dragon can deliver ORUs

Chances that X-37 goes to ISS are close to nil

Danderman · « **Reply #18 on:** 10/08/2011 07:40 pm »

Quote from: Jim on 10/08/2011 07:32 pm

X-37b going to ISS is almost nil

Its that infinitesimally small probability that is the basis for the new X-37 threads.

Prober · « **Reply #19 on:** 10/08/2011 08:16 pm »

Quote from: Space Pete on 10/08/2011 06:54 pm

Quote from: arkaska on 10/08/2011 10:12 am
Even though it is unlikely this will ever come to be it would be a great addition to ISS. It will give us a way to bring up ORUs previously only the shuttle could bring up.

This, in my opinion, is the single biggest advantage of X-37 to ISS, since this is a unique capability that only the X-37 can offer.

Everyone misses the real “asset” of the x37b program. It’s further along, tested, and it works! That’s the real excitement here.

NASA could have a real winner here and doesn’t really know it. Right now I would love to see NASA work with USAF on this. Given the specs of the X37 run a test to fly to the ISS (no birthing) and after sometime return.

This is a “mission change” for the test program, but could be well worth it in the future. The Original design specs might have changed. Some of the published x37b specs have an uber high orbit (much higher than the ISS).