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USAF test-spaceplane launched
Monday, 26 April 2010 13:40
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| Spaceflight - Private spaceflight |
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Saturday the USAF launched an X37b miniature spaceshuttle. The mission is secret but supposed to be a technology-test. Military- and political analysers are concerned that the USAF is militarising space The X37 is an autonomous minbiature version of the spaceshuttle. It is based upon 20years of experiences and developments of the Spaceshuttles, and was - at least for a long time - developed with the International Spacestation ISS in mind. Immidiatly after launch, the mission was covered up by military officials Originally the X40 was ordered for USAF. But then the X37 - a sisterdesign to X40 - gained succes over the X40. The X37 was intended for ISS. The X37 is capable of carrying a 1tin cargo of 1x5m to a low orbit on short notice, and return to earth after more than 2000days in space. For the purpose of long-duration missions, it has deployable solar arrays, to suply it with power.
Concerns are, that a quick-response spaceplane can be used to spy on foreign satellittes and even dismantle them. Other sources: Spaceflightnow |
