It’s a bird. It’s a plane. Its the new mystery Space plane of the U.S. Air Force
It’s all very hush-hush still but reportedly the U.S. Air Force is testing a space plane, internally referred to as the X-37B. Not too much is known about what it is meant for. The rumours and speculation abound but there is no hard core knowledge. The only lead that would seem to have roots in reality is that it shares its lineage with old U.S. space shuttles.
Thus the X-37B uses the same space shuttle technology but with one big difference – it is unmanned. What one does not know is what the USAF intends to do with it? Edge-of-space Halo tours? A means to make available reconnaissance on demand? Big Brother in the sky?
And the Air Force is not talking. So far, it has merely announced that the X-37B will launch for the third time on Dec. 11 and that it is only a “reliable, reusable, unmanned space test platform.” According to Allen Thomson, a former CIA analyst, “I think the guess that makes most sense is quick-response tactical imaging, meaning hours to a couple of days from request to delivery.” Now this seems to point to a greater scope of work than just a space test platform.
Most people believe that this is a super spy satellite. This is because the X-37B seems to have the same orbit patterns as that of spy satellites and scientific remote sensing craft. It has also been observed making mid-flight changes in its orbital trajectory. This would indicate that the craft’s manoeuvrability is being checked. According to Jon Johnson-Freese, professor of national security studies at the U.S. Naval War College, this is so that the space plane won’t “be in a predictable place at a predictable time.”
But as per Gary Payton, the Air Force’s deputy undersecretary for space programs, the mystery craft isn’t a “weaponisation of space. We, the Air Force, have a suite of military missions in space and this new vehicle could potentially help us do those missions better.”
With no clarity being offered any time soon the best thing to do if you see a space shuttle-like object hovering above you in the sky is to “smile – you’re on candid camera.”
2012-12-02 03:57:41
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