Kmar
Truth is my Bitch
+5,695|6572|132 and Bush

Liftoff in-22 April 2010 19:52:00 EDT

http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av012/status.html

Rocket:  Atlas 5
Payload: X-37B - Orbital Test Vehicle
Date: April 22, 2010
Window: 7:52-8:01 p.m. EDT
Site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral, Florida
Feed: Galaxy 19, Transponder 20, C-band, 97° West

https://i44.tinypic.com/2i06gzd.jpg

"Fundamentally, this is an updated version of the space shuttle," said Gary Payton, the U.S. Air Force's top civilian leader for military space programs. "The Air Force has a suite of military missions in space. This new vehicle could potentially help us do those missions better."

Although officials are openly discussing the X-37B platform itself, the Air Force is mum on exactly what payloads the unmanned ship carries inside its cargo hold, which is about the size of a pickup truck bed.

During several weeks or months in orbit, the X-37B will be a testbed for secret new technologies.

Future flights of the reusable spaceship could approach U.S. or foreign satellites, recover old spacecraft, or test out surveillance and repair techniques. The speculation leads some to voice concerns over the militarization of space.

During a teleconference with reporters Tuesday, Payton said none of those activities are part of the X-37B's first flight. The craft launching Thursday does not carry a robot arm like the shuttle, and there are no rendezvous objectives planned for the mission, according to Payton.

New heat shield technologies, advanced guidance and navigation, a solar power generation system, and new flight control systems are at the top of the list of public goals for the test flight.

"The primary objectives of the X-37 are to [prove] a new batch of vehicle technologies for America's future, plus readying and demonstratring the concept of operations for reusable experimental payloads," Payton said.

The X-37B will return to Earth only after it completes its top secret experiments in orbit.

A mini-space shuttle

With wings and a payload bay, the spaceplane has been labeled as a miniature military space shuttle. But it is not equipped to carry people and its capabilities are significantly more limited than the real thing.
https://i42.tinypic.com/2e4g84x.jpg

The mission will be controlled by the Air Force's 3rd Space Experimentation Squadron at Schriever Air Force Base, Colo.

The Air Force says the craft's activities in space are classified, including its post-launch orbital parameters. The X-37B is designed to operate at altitudes between 110 and 500 nautical miles, or 126 to 575 miles, according to an Air Force spokesperson.

Thursday's Atlas launch will enter a news blackout after the rocket's Centaur upper stage completes its first burn about 17 minutes after liftoff. Any subsequent Centaur firings and deployment of the X-37B will not be announced.

"You can't hide a space launch," Payton said. "The main thing we want to emphasize is the vehicle itself, not so much what's going on during the on-orbit experimental phase. The vehicle itself is the piece of news here."
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FatherTed
xD
+3,936|6471|so randum
Doctor Who new series ep3 did it already
Small hourglass island
Always raining and foggy
Use an umbrella
RTHKI
mmmf mmmf mmmf
+1,736|6708|Oxferd Ohire
So if it's like a mini space shuttle does that mean they could make bigger version comparable to the space shuttle eventually?
https://i.imgur.com/tMvdWFG.png
Kmar
Truth is my Bitch
+5,695|6572|132 and Bush

https://img215.imageshack.us/img215/8898/x37binshrouddoomsday604.jpg

@rthki, "like it" but most likely much much more advanced. Classified yo.


We know that it runs on a renewable energy source unlike the shuttle's fuel cell.
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Kmar
Truth is my Bitch
+5,695|6572|132 and Bush

I was going to post a link to watch.. but it seems the air force disagrees with me. Floridians look west at 7:52
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Noobpatty
ʎʇʇɐdqoou
+194|6325|West NY
is this the first time weaponry was put on a spacecraft?
Kmar
Truth is my Bitch
+5,695|6572|132 and Bush

I do not believe it is armed.. er yet?

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Kmar
Truth is my Bitch
+5,695|6572|132 and Bush

a hah

you can watch here fellas
http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/Mul … cast.shtml

Coverage begins at 7:32 est

about an hour from this post..
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War Man
Australians are hermaphrodites.
+563|6684|Purplicious Wisconsin
Dear Iran and China, prepare to die!!!
The irony of guns, is that they can save lives.
13rin
Member
+977|6450
They made Attack Drones...  Holy crap, imagine the tactical capability.  Have a few in orbit...
I stood in line for four hours. They better give me a Wal-Mart gift card, or something.  - Rodney Booker, Job Fair attendee.
War Man
Australians are hermaphrodites.
+563|6684|Purplicious Wisconsin

DBBrinson1 wrote:

They made Attack Drones...  Holy crap, imagine the tactical capability.  Have a few in orbit...
Precisely, hey Iran you still want nukes? 'Cause we are gonna bombard your fucking facilities so high you don't even have any fucking aircraft that can even see its shape.
The irony of guns, is that they can save lives.
menzo
̏̏̏̏̏̏̏̏&#
+616|6417|Amsterdam‫

War Man wrote:

Dear Iran and China, prepare to die!!!
no , China will grow larger!
https://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee37/menzo2003/fredbf2.png
Kmar
Truth is my Bitch
+5,695|6572|132 and Bush

evasive maneuvers.. shit Klingon's!
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War Man
Australians are hermaphrodites.
+563|6684|Purplicious Wisconsin

Kmarion wrote:

evasive maneuvers.. shit Klingon's!
Please no star trek. Find some other Sci Fi that is better and doesn't have people in gay uniforms. Oh I have an idea Fire Fly/Serenity.

Last edited by War Man (2010-04-22 16:12:34)

The irony of guns, is that they can save lives.
Kmar
Truth is my Bitch
+5,695|6572|132 and Bush

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menzo
̏̏̏̏̏̏̏̏&#
+616|6417|Amsterdam‫
https://www.cncden.com/gen_zoomin/Generals-China-OverLordTankVariants.jpg

overlord > attack droid
https://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee37/menzo2003/fredbf2.png
Kmar
Truth is my Bitch
+5,695|6572|132 and Bush

War Man wrote:

Kmarion wrote:

evasive maneuvers.. shit Klingon's!
Please no star trek. Find some other Sci Fi that is better and doesn't have people in gay uniforms. Oh I have an idea Fire Fly/Serenity.
gay men intimidate you? perhaps you should bury that deep inside and avoid all references.
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War Man
Australians are hermaphrodites.
+563|6684|Purplicious Wisconsin

Kmarion wrote:

War Man wrote:

Kmarion wrote:

evasive maneuvers.. shit Klingon's!
Please no star trek. Find some other Sci Fi that is better and doesn't have people in gay uniforms. Oh I have an idea Fire Fly/Serenity.
gay men intimidate you? perhaps you should bury that deep inside and avoid all references.
Not saying they are gay men, they just dress gay.
The irony of guns, is that they can save lives.
Kmar
Truth is my Bitch
+5,695|6572|132 and Bush

there is a built in hold so when you hear t-minus ___ .. don't forget. Launch is set for 19:52 est.
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menzo
̏̏̏̏̏̏̏̏&#
+616|6417|Amsterdam‫
just press the button!!
https://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee37/menzo2003/fredbf2.png
Narupug
Fodder Mostly
+150|5567|Vacationland
They weren't lying when they said Space was the final frontier...of war
menzo
̏̏̏̏̏̏̏̏&#
+616|6417|Amsterdam‫
inb4 epic space battle
https://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee37/menzo2003/fredbf2.png
Kmar
Truth is my Bitch
+5,695|6572|132 and Bush

all gewd so far
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{M5}Sniper3
Typical white person.
+389|6731|San Antonio, Texas
Alright, here we go...
TravisC555
Member
+118|6190|Cox Convention Center, OK
T-4 minutes and counting

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