Video Captures Unmanned Air Force Space Plane Landing in California After ‘Clandestine’ Mission
- Posted on June 16, 2012 at 10:46pm by
Scott Baker
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — An unmanned Air Force space plane steered itself to a landing early Saturday at a California military base, capping a 15-month clandestine mission.
The spacecraft, which was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida in March 2011, conducted in-orbit experiments during the mission, officials said. It was the second such autonomous landing at the Vandenberg Air Force Base, 130 miles northwest of Los Angeles. In 2010, an identical unmanned spacecraft returned to Earth after seven months and 91 million miles in orbit.
The latest homecoming was set in motion when the stubby-winged robotic X-37B fired its engine to slip out of orbit, then pierced through the atmosphere and glided down the runway like an airplane.
“With the retirement of the Space Shuttle fleet, the X-37B OTV program brings a singular capability to space technology development,” said Lt. Col. Tom McIntyre, the X-37B’s program manager. “The return capability allows the Air Force to test new technologies without the same risk commitment faced by other programs. We‘re proud of the entire team’s successful efforts to bring this mission to an outstanding conclusion.”
With the second X-37B on the ground, the Air Force planned to launch the first one again in the fall. An exact date has not been set.
The twin X-37B vehicles are part of a military program testing robotically controlled reusable spacecraft technologies. Though the Air Force has emphasized the goal is to test the space plane itself, there’s a classified payload on board — a detail that has led to much speculation about the mission’s ultimate purpose.
Some amateur trackers think the craft carried an experimental spy satellite sensor judging by its low orbit and inclination, suggesting reconnaissance or intelligence gathering rather than communications.
Harvard astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell, who runs Jonathan’s Space Report, which tracks the world’s space launches and satellites, said it’s possible it was testing some form of new imaging.
The latest X-37B was boosted into orbit atop an Atlas 5 rocket. It was designed to stay aloft for nine months, but the Air Force wanted to test its endurance. After determining the space plane was performing well, the military decided in December to extend the mission.
Little has been said publicly about the second X-37B flight and operations. At a budget hearing before the Senate Armed Services subcommittee in March, William Shelton, head of the Air Force Space Command, made a passing mention.
That the second X-37B has stayed longer in space than the first shows “the flexibility of this unique system,” he told lawmakers.
Defense analysts are divided over its usefulness.
Joan Johnson-Freese, professor of national security affairs at the Naval War College, said such a craft could give the U.S. “eyes” over conflict regions faster than a satellite.
“Having a vehicle with a broad range of capabilities that can get into space quickly is a very good thing,” she said.
Yousaf Butt, a nuclear physicist and scientific consultant for the Federation of American Scientists, thinks the capabilities of the X-37B could be done more cheaply with a disposable spacecraft.
“I believe one of the reasons that the mission is still around is institutional inertia,” he said.
The arc of the X-37 program spans back to 1999 and has changed hands several times. Originally a NASA project, the space agency in 2004 transferred it to the Pentagon’s research and development arm, DARPA, and then to the secretive Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been poured into development, but the current total spent remains a secret.
Built by Boeing Co.’s Phantom Works, the 11,000-pound space plane stands 9 1/2 feet tall and is just over 29 feet long, with a wingspan of less than 15 feet. It possesses two angled tail fins rather than a single vertical stabilizer. Once in orbit, it has solar panels that unfurl to charge batteries for electrical power.
McDowell of the Jonathan’s Space Report sees a downside. He noted it’ll be tough for the Air Force to send up such planes on short notice if it has to rely on the Atlas V rocket, which requires lengthy preparations.
“The requirement to go on Atlas V is a problem; they may need to look at a new launch vehicle that would be ready to go more quickly,” he said.
___
Online:
X-37B fact sheet: http://www.af.mil/information/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=16639
Vandenberg AFB: http://www.vandenberg.af.mil
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Comments (68)
ksagpilot
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 11:50amBy the time Obumbler gets through there will no longer be any Military Secrets.
Report Post »deanied
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 2:25pmOMG….scarry! The man is VERY dangerous to this country & the American people & our way of life! Time to DELETE him!
Report Post »KevINtampa
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 1:01amI‘ve heard there’s an F-22 air frame already capable of entering/re-entering an Earth orbit. There’s just trouble putting a pilot in it due to oxygen issues.
Report Post »dadsrootbeer
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 10:52amWow, if these program was under the GOP and particullary Bush the media and our progressive congressman would be outraged. But since it’s the child king, silence.
Report Post »FireMall
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 12:38pmNo offense intended . However, people of the So called Conservative side AND the Leftist / Socialist side need to “THINK” about the fact that 99% of Congress likely & collectively, Voted Yes on funding these experiments.
Wanna bet the bank that nearly every questionable event such as this space craft are tied into and “Will” be used in the immediate future via the Illegally authorized National Defense Authorization Act / NDAA. ??
Before betting , I suggest one Google, Congressional voting records / NDAA and note that around 500 of the 535 house & senate Reps voted Yes to authorize NDAA’s absolutely Illegal & Unconstitutional destructive intent..
In short, All I am saying is, “We The People” are SOL if “We” actually believe that any in Obama’s U.N. Controlled Gov are going to govern under the simple Laws of America’s time honored & proven Principles..
Report Post »Bruce_Almty
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 10:43amIs the military abducting aliens, and are they performing “examinations” on them?
Report Post »cloudsofwar
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 11:31am@ bruce… hail to the red skins. i’m glade that the USA is still developing space flight.
Report Post »Rayr
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 1:46pmIf they are it better be rectal probes, cause that’s what they do to all the people that have been abducted by them. Well, at least that’s what I hear. ;)
Report Post »Joe TEXAN
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 2:22pmi saw NO identifying Markings for any Government, Country, or Military……………….NASA,…..nothing??
Report Post »This makes it very Odd to me!!
beekeeper
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 10:25amHonestly, how can you refer to this as “secret” if I now know about it, sitting on my sofa in New Jersey?
I eagerly await the Left coming out an decrying the expense of a “shadow” space program…
Report Post »t00nces2
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 5:38pm… or the disclosing of government “secrets”…
Report Post »zetuff
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 10:23amthe planes in the 911 event was unmanned also………………
Report Post »rich66
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 1:11pmOh, Geez. Here we go again.
Report Post »jaylew
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 1:58pm@Rich66…..I am so hoping your warning keeps this thread free from truther discussions about the WTC events. They just won’t stop injecting that lunacy into every single facet or aspect of life…
Report Post »georgepatton
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 6:15pmZETUFF: You are a friggin’ moonbat.
Report Post »Did your parents have any children that survived?
Patrick Henry II
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 9:22amIf they are spying on anyone they are spying on us; To “Protect” us.
Report Post »tawanda1966
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 3:04pmHey PHII, that was my FIRST thought. I couldn’t help but to think of the Texan shooting down drones…Oh drones, what drones?
Report Post »BOMUSTGO
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 8:55amhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_X-37
Report Post »BOMUSTGO
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 8:53amBack in 2010, a retired USAF Colonel, an old neighbor, told me about this vehicle a few months before it launched.
Report Post »Joyzee
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 8:50amThis Drone classified Obese
Report Post »Rayr
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 1:48pmNot to worry, Obamacare will take care of it.
Report Post »Joyzee
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 8:48amSpace shuttle’s retarded brother
Report Post »MRMANN
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 6:00am“Clandestine” mission–many ghastly Big Brother scenerios come to mind.
Report Post »Delores at CH WV
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 5:31amClandestine Mission. Ugh? It doesn’t look clandestine. I bet that China was given the plans and is building their model; Russia was also given the plans and is building their model. It is no secret, only from the American People who believe the hogwash that comes out of the American Press. How do you think China has a portable space station and a woman getting on board to dock? Have you seen any Tests over the years to get their program in production. NO, because the US is probably helping them design, set up communications, and is involve with this launch. It took many years, mistakes, and tests for the US to get up to the space station. We are talking 40 plus years. Of course, Russia may have helped them too. We probably gave them Grant money to build China’s space plan for a station and the journey to the Moon. The US government keeps missing billions they can’t find; they have given China access to our Banking System. Why, Americans need to get on board with China because our country was given away years ago!
Report Post »spikebu
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 4:28amQuestion…if it’s unmanned, why does it have windows?
Report Post »BOMUSTGO
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 8:51amIt has no windows.
Report Post »Noonien_Soong
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 9:30amThose may be camera ports or for navigational purposes and possible docking in the future.
Report Post »Rayr
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 1:50pmThe AI likes to see where it’s going. ;)
Report Post »Hawaii_Conservative
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 3:38amThe Chinese are the definition of cheap asses or just plain thieves … lol Too bad, the military was involved, lost credibility there. What are these, the new drones that have the capacity to transport the NDAA detainees? Will private corporations ever be willing to space travel on a regular basis or is space limited to the gov’t of the world? Just concerned and asking???
Report Post »mrawfull
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 1:47amGood thing it did not land in Iran.
Report Post »Exrepublisheep
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 2:06amA fair post.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 2:11amIt may already have been in China?
Report Post »WAKEUPUSA2012
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 1:45amIm fine with unmaned space planes. lol its the 30,000 drones flying over Amerika by 2020 that has me a little pissed.
Wanna see into the future?
Watch the video in this article. Its offical from the UN.
Its the very first vidoes.
http://www.infowars.com/united-nations-envisions-transhumanist-future-where-man-is-obsolete/
Report Post »gsp9993
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 4:12amThis is all kind of creepy. Why aren’t our secrets being hidden from the world? Or is the government going to be spying on US.
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 1:18am5h!t is soon to hit the fan.
Report Post »Pigpen
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 1:15amThe Article States: “Harvard astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell, who runs Jonathan’s Space Report, which tracks the world’s space launches and satellites, said it’s possible it was testing some form of new imaging.”
Boy, the Ivy-Leaguers sure are p1ssed that the US is still in the “space game”, but no doubt relieved that the rest of you “American Idol Watchers” haven’t caught on to the fact that the USA is STILL in a VERY REAL and VERY DANGEROUS Space and Arms Race with Red China and “Pink” Russia.
Report Post »DEFCON4
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 1:30amPIGPEN ,Interesting post . Why did they (govt) release “clandestine” photo ops.???
Report Post »Gizzy
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 2:03amWas this another Benedict Arnoldian slip of the tongue by our Embezzler & Thief hugobama??? Were the accounts of these clandestine USAF missions supposed to be released to the waiting ears of our enemies?
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 1:15amand so it goes. Let’s just ease this story on in.
Pay no attention to the EPA requesting to use Gov‘t Drone’s to spy cows. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. NO! YOUR quest should be to seek out the wicked witch and get her broomstick.
Report Post »spikebu
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 4:41am“Oh we loathe the Old ONE!”
Report Post »spikebu
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 4:48amThat’s what the Wicked Witches soldiers chant as they march?
Report Post »SteveJ
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 12:43amBig brother is watching
Report Post »shogun459
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 12:37amWell we do have to work out all the bugs before Obama can GIFT this to his Masters.
Report Post »Tri-ox
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 12:32amHelping NASA with its “primary mission” of “muslim outreach” perhaps?
If we are to survive as a nation – obama must be removed from power.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 12:46amAmen to that !!!
Report Post »Pokerjoe
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 11:55amT.O. You hit the nail on the head. The El Obumbo gives anything to anyone thats not I repete not the AMERICAN way. Its so sad we hane a nut job like him. People say hes a good guy not so. Commies and muslims are not good people to the USA or for that matter anyone else. They say show me the prove on the birth and his not being anything but christian. Well I say prove hes not.
Report Post »SteveJ
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 12:31amThe ultimate drone.
Report Post »valleyfever
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 12:27amThe way we protect our military technology the Chinese will have their nearly identical copy in a few months. Too bad.
Report Post »Gizzy
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 2:12amDon’t you know that they probably have their spy chips already manufactured into these aircraft!
Report Post »cloudsofwar
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 11:38amwas it made in china? powered by chinese aborted babies. i refuse to buy made in china products.
Report Post »possom
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 12:12amIt flew around the world to check on cattle crap for he epa!
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