Errymath: X-37B

Boeing - X-37B ISR/Strike Unmanned Hypersonic Space Fighter [1080p]

Boeing - X-37B ISR/Strike Unmanned Hypersonic Space Fighter [1080p]

Defense Ministry reveals new and future military technology Tianzhou-1 automated fast-docking with Tiangong-2

US Air Force's X-37B space plane reaches 600 days in orbit - and its mission STILL remains a mystery

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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The X-37B space plane, an experimental program run by the Air Force, 
launched atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket on May 20, 2015. 
 Pictured is an artist's impression</span></td></tr>
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<span id="ext-gen144" style="font-size: 1.2em;">The US Air Force's mystery military space plane has now been in orbit for 600 days. </span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The
 X-37B space plane, an experimental program run by the Air Force, 
launched atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket on May 20, 2015.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">While some details of its payload have been revealed - we still do not know exactly what's on board. </span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font" id="ext-gen132">
<span id="ext-gen131" style="font-size: 1.2em;">Theories have ranged from it being a space bomber, to a  probe on a mission to 'take out' spy satellites.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">If the 
spacecraft spends 74 more days in orbit, it will break the record it set
 during its last mission, which touched down in October 2014.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The
 mystery vehicle, essentially a technology test bed, is designed to 
orbit the Earth and then land like one of Nasa's old shuttles.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span id="ext-gen139" style="font-size: 1.2em;">According
 to X-37B manufacturer Boeing, the space plane operates in low-earth 
orbit, between 110 (177km) and 500 miles (800km) above earth.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">By comparison, the International Space Station orbits at about 220 miles (350km). </span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">While
 its main mission payload is a mystery, Nasa has revealed it has a 
materials experiment aboard, while the Planetary Society is tagging 
along with a solar-sail demo.  </span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Called
 LightSail, it uses a propulsion system that uses the pressure of 
photons from the sun, a technique known as solar sailing. </span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Nine other CubeSat nanosatellites are also taking a piggyback ride into orbit. </span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The space plane - one of two of the same design - is operated robotically, without anyone on board, and is reusable.</span></div>
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<span id="ext-gen146" style="font-size: 1.2em;">It
 is 29ft (8.8m) long — about one-fourth the size of a Nasa shuttle. The 
longest X-37B flight lasted about 675 days; touchdown was last October.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">There
 is no official word on exactly how long this one will stay up, although
 report suggest it will return to Earth later this year. </span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">When the plane does return, it will land in Nasa's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida.</span></div>
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There is no 
official word on exactly how long this one will stay up, although report
 suggest it will return to Earth later this year </div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">A
 former KSC space-shuttle facility will enable the Air Force 'to 
efficiently land, recover, refurbish and relaunch the X-37B Orbital Test
 Vehicle (OTV),' Boeing representatives told<a class="" href="http://www.space.com/34343-x37b-space-plane-otv4-mission-passes-500-days.html" rel="nofollow" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"> Space.com</a>.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">In an unprecedented disclosure, last year the Department of Defense did reveal some details about the X-37B's main mission.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'[We]
 are investigating an experimental propulsion system on the X-37B on 
Mission 4,' Captain Chris Hoyler, an Air Force spokesman, told <a class="" href="http://www.space.com/29221-x37b-military-space-plane-fourth-mission.html" rel="nofollow" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Space.com</a>. </span></div>
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<a href="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/10/11/09/394CD87100000578-0-image-a-21_1476174025071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Theories have ranged from it being a space bomber, to a clandestine probe on a mission to 'take out' spy satellites. Pictured is the Atlas V rocket carrying the mysterious payload moments after launch last year" border="0" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" data-track-pos="2" height="443" id="i-15a4d89692edfc79" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/10/11/09/394CD87100000578-0-image-a-21_1476174025071.jpg" style="display: block;" width="306" /></a><a href="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/10/11/09/394CD86D00000578-0-image-a-22_1476174027527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The rocket before it launched is pictured" border="0" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" data-track-pos="3" height="443" id="i-57126eee074a8b48" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/10/11/09/394CD86D00000578-0-image-a-22_1476174027527.jpg" style="display: block;" width="306" /></a></div>
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Theories 
have ranged from it being a space bomber, to a clandestine probe on a 
mission to 'take out' spy satellites. Pictured is the Atlas V rocket 
carrying the mysterious payload moments (left) after launch last year, 
and just before (right)</div>
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Like
 a shuttle, X-37B is blasted into orbit by a rocket. However, it lands 
using a runway like a normal aircraft. The X-37B is too small to carry 
people onboard, but does have a cargo bay similar to that of a pickup 
truck, which is just large enough to carry a small satellite</div>
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<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'The
 Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office will also host a number of advance 
materials onboard the X-37B for Nasa to study the durability of various 
materials in the space environment,' Hoyler added. </span> </span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span id="ext-gen148" style="font-size: 1.2em;">He
 added the vehicle's mission 'cannot be specified' but that it will 
enhance 'the development of the concept of operations for reusable space
 vehicles'.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><a class="" href="http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/04/27/x-37b-launch-date-firms-up-as-new-details-emerge-about-experiment/" rel="nofollow" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Spaceflightnow.com</a> revealed more details of the flight, which is described as a 'hall thruster electric propulsion test.'</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">It
 is intended to improve performance of the units onboard Advanced 
Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) military communications spacecraft, 
officials claim.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">AEHF
 satellites' Hall thrusters are 4.5-kilowatt units that use electricity 
and xenon to produce thrust for moving satellites in space.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The benefit of using electric propulsion is that its xenon fuel weighs much less than traditional hydrazine.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">This technology could help in the development of technologies to control satellites with better accuracy. </span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">However,
 experts claim that refining an advanced manoeuvring thruster is 
probably just a small part of the vehicle's true mission set. </span></div>
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<img alt="The US Air Force's top secret X-37B space plane was caught on camera in 2015 by a team of amateur astronomers. South African astronomer Greg Roberts captured this of the space plane in two-second¿long exposures just a few weeks after launch" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" data-track-pos="5" height="382" id="i-b2469eb9549a0753" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/10/11/09/394CD49800000578-0-image-a-7_1476173948296.jpg" style="display: block;" width="634" />
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The US Air 
Force's top secret X-37B space plane was caught on camera in 2015 by a 
team of amateur astronomers. South African astronomer Greg Roberts 
captured this of the space plane in two-second–long exposures just a few
 weeks after launch</div>
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<div class="imageCaption" id="ext-gen141">
An
 infrared view of the X-37B unmanned spacecraft landing at Vandenberg 
Air Force Base.  The purpose of the U.S. military's space plane is 
classified</div>
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<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">One
 leading secrecy expert previously told DailyMail.com the drone is 'very
 likely' be used to test technologies that will increase spying 
capabilities of the US.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'The
 US government has a bottomless appetite for sensitive information,' 
said Steven Aftergood, a secrecy expert at the Federation of American 
Scientists.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'As
 powerful as our intelligence satellites may be, they also have their 
limitations - most notably the limitations imposed by their orbital 
parameters.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'It's conceivable that a spy plane would introduce new versatility into overhead reconnaissance.' </span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The
 X-37B space drone, otherwise known as the Orbital Test Vehicle, is 
blasted into orbit by a rocket. However, it lands using a runway like a 
normal aircraft. </span></div>
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The
 X-program has bounced between several federal agencies, Nasa among 
them, since 1999. The plane has been in space for a total of 674 days, 
far more than its two previous flights which lasted 225 and 469 days</div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The
 X-37B is too small to carry people onboard, but does have a cargo bay 
similar to that of a pickup truck, which is just large enough to carry a
 small satellite.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The X-program has bounced between several federal agencies, Nasa among them, since 1999.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The program's first mission launched in April 2010 and landed in December that year.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The second space plane took off on March 2011 and came back to Earth in June 2012. <i>dailymail</i></span></div>
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One
 secrecy expert has told DailyMail.com that the drone (artist's 
impression ) is 'likely' to be a spy plane. The program's first mission 
launched in April 2010 and landed in December that year. <i>dailymail</i></div>
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This
 December 3, 2010, image by the Vandenberg Air Force Base shows 
technicians examining the X-37B unmanned spaceplane shortly after 
landing at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. <i>dailymail</i></div>
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<li><a class="js-tl" href="http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/04/27/x-37b-launch-date-firms-up-as-new-details-emerge-about-experiment/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">New details emerge about electric propulsion experiment aboard X-37B | Spaceflight Now</a></li>
<li><a class="js-tl" href="http://www.space.com/32839-x37b-military-space-plane-one-year-mission-otv4.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mystery Mission: Air Force's X-37B Space Plane Nears 1 Year in Orbit</a></li>
<li id="ext-gen149"><a class="js-tl" href="http://www.space.com/34343-x37b-space-plane-otv4-mission-passes-500-days.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Air Force's X-37B Space Plane Mystery Mission Wings by 500 Days in Orbit</a> </li>
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US Air Force's X-37B space plane reaches 600 days in orbit - and its mission STILL remains a mystery

The X-37B space plane, an experimental program run by the Air Force, launched atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket on May 20, 20...

X-37B space-aircraft set to fly on its fourth secret mission

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<h1 id="ext-gen103">
<span style="font-size: large;">Top secret X-37B space plane to blast off this 
morning - and we still don't know what it will do in orbit or when it 
will be back</span></h1>
<ul class="mol-bullets-with-font">
<li class=""><span style="font-size: small;">X-37B space drone set to blast off  on its fourth secret mission</span></li>
<li class=""><span style="font-size: small;">Theories ranged from it being a space bomber to destroying satellites</span></li>
<li class=""><span style="font-size: small;">The flight will test a system that makes satellites easy to manoeuvre</span></li>
<li class=""><span style="font-size: 1.4em;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is probably a small part of the vehicle's true mission, say experts</span><strong></strong></span></li>
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<div class="author-section byline-plain">
<i>By

Ellie Zolfagharifard

and 
Mark Prigg For Dailymail.com</i>

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<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">It is one of the most mysterious craft ever to go into orbit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The
 X-37B space plane, a secretive, experimental program run by the Air 
Force, is capable of remaining in space for almost two years.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">It will blast off for a fourth time tomorrow - but we still don't know what's on board. </span></div>
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<img alt="In an unprecedented disclosure, the Department of Defense has revealed details about the X-37B latest mission, which is due to take off on May 20.  '[We] are investigating an experimental propulsion system on the X-37B on Mission 4,' Captain Chris Hoyler, an Air Force spokesman said" class="blkBorder img-share" height="655" id="i-b297dca12fb61883" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/10/13/1413189873436_Image_galleryImage_The_Boeing_built_X_37B_th.JPG" width="634" /><div class="share-pictures-overlay" id="share-pictures-1">
  
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In an unprecedented disclosure, the 
Department of Defense has revealed details about the X-37B latest 
mission, which is due to take off on May 20.  '[We] are investigating an
 experimental propulsion system on the X-37B on Mission 4,' Captain 
Chris Hoyler, an Air Force spokesman said</div>
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                <h3 class="wocc">
                    <span style="background-color: #ffe599;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">X-37B'S MYSTERY MISSIONS </span></span>                </h3>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The U.S. Air Force's unmanned X-37B space plane has flown three secret missions to date.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Each time it has carried a mystery payload on long-duration flights in Earth orbit.</span></span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The
 spacecraft looks similar to Nasa's space shuttle but is much smaller. 
The X-37B is about 29ft (8.8m) long and 9.5ft (2.9 m) tall.</span></span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">It has a wingspan of just less than 15ft (4.6 m). At launch, it weighs 11,000lbs (4,990kg).</span></span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The craft is taken into orbit on a rocket but lands like the space shuttle by gliding down to Earth.</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;">                </span></div>
<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;">            </span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The mini military space plane is poised for liftoff Wednesday on another long orbital test flight.  </span></span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<br /></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<br /></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The three previous missions also began with rocket launches from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The
 mystery test vehicle — essentially a technology test bed — is designed 
to orbit the Earth and then land like one of NASA's old shuttles. </span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">It is operated robotically, without anyone on board, and is reusable. </span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">It is 29 feet long — about one-fourth the size of a NASA shuttle.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The longest X-37B flight lasted about 675 days; touchdown was last October. </span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">There's no official word on how long this one will stay up. </span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">All three previous missions ended in California.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">NASA has a materials experiment aboard, while the Planetary Society is tagging along with a solar-sail demo.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Although
 largely mum about this X-37B flight, the Air Force has acknowledged a 
thruster experiment involving electric propulsion. </span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Air
 Force researchers want to check design modifications to ion thrusters 
already flying on some advanced military communication satellites.</span></div>
<div>
<div class="related-carousel with-fb sciencetech" data-track-module="am-related_carousel^related_carousel" data-track-pos="static" data-track-selector=".rotator-panels a:not([class*=external])" id="p-16">
<div class="fb">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Wednesday's liftoff of the Atlas V rocket is scheduled for 11:05 a.m. </span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">However,
 in an unprecedented disclosure, earlier this month the Department of 
Defense did reveal some details about the X-37B latest mission, which is
 due to take off on May 20.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'[We]
 are investigating an experimental propulsion system on the X-37B on 
Mission 4,' Captain Chris Hoyler, an Air Force spokesman, told <a class="" href="http://www.space.com/29221-x37b-military-space-plane-fourth-mission.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Space.com</a>.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'The
 Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office will also host a number of advance 
materials onboard the X-37B for Nasa to study the durability of various 
materials in the space environment,' Hoyler added.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><a class="" href="http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/04/27/x-37b-launch-date-firms-up-as-new-details-emerge-about-experiment/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Spaceflightnow.com</a> revealed more details of the flight, which is described as a 'hall thruster electric propulsion test.'</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<br /></div>
<div class="artSplitter mol-img-group">
    <div class="mol-img">
  <div class="image-wrap fff-pic" style="cursor: pointer;">
<img alt="Like a shuttle, X-37B is blasted into orbit by a rocket. However, it lands using a runway like a normal aircraft. The X-37B is too small to carry people onboard, but does have a cargo bay similar to that of a pickup truck, which is just large enough to carry a small satellite" class="blkBorder img-share" height="702" id="i-9f3a3e57678eb9f0" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/10/20/1413827936552_wps_6_America_s_secret_space_pl.jpg" width="634" /><div class="share-pictures-overlay" id="share-pictures-2">
  
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="imageCaption">
Like a shuttle, X-37B is blasted into 
orbit by a rocket. However, it lands using a runway like a normal 
aircraft. The X-37B is too small to carry people onboard, but does have a
 cargo bay similar to that of a pickup truck, which is just large enough
 to carry a small satellite</div>
<div class="imageCaption">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">It
 is intended to improve performance of the units onboard Advanced 
Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) military communications spacecraft, 
officials said today.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">AEHF
 satellites' Hall thrusters are 4.5-kilowatt units that use electricity 
and xenon to produce thrust for moving satellites in space.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The benefit of using electric propulsion is that its xenon fuel weighs much less than traditional hydrazine.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">This technology could help in the development of technologies to control satellites with better accuracy.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">However,
 experts claim that refining an advanced manoeuvring thruster is 
probably just a small part of the vehicle's true mission set.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">One
 leading secrecy expert previously told DailyMail.com that the drone is 
'very likely' be used to test technologies that will increase spying 
capabilities of the US.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<br /></div>
<div class="artSplitter">
<div>
  <div class="image-wrap fff-pic" style="cursor: pointer;">
<img alt="An infrared view of the X-37B unmanned spacecraft landing at Vandenberg Air Force Base.  The purpose of the U.S. military's space plane is classified" class="blkBorder img-share" height="442" id="i-abbf413324692396" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/10/20/1413824824241_wps_1_This_June_16_2012_file_im.jpg" width="634" /><div class="share-pictures-overlay" id="share-pictures-3">
  
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="imageCaption">
An infrared view of the X-37B unmanned 
spacecraft landing at Vandenberg Air Force Base. </div>
<div class="imageCaption">
The purpose of the 
U.S. military's space plane is classified</div>
<div class="imageCaption">
<br /></div>
<div class="imageCaption">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="art-ins mol-factbox sciencetech floatRHS">
                <h3 class="wocc">
                    <span style="font-weight: bold;">TOP FOUR CONSPIRACY THEORIES</span></h3>
<div class="ins cleared xolcc bdrcc">
                    <ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><b><span class="mol-style-bold">The space plane is a spy plane:</span></b> The leading theory appears to be that the unmanned space plane is a shuttle-shaped surveillance vehicle. </span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span class="mol-style-bold"><b>It could be a space bomber</b>:</span> This
 is the least likely theory, according tot Seven Aftergood, a secrecy 
expert at the Federation of American Scientists. He claims the US 
doesn't need this capability. </span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span class="mol-style-bold"><b>It is on a mission is to 'take out' satellites</b>:</span> This activity would be easily traceable, making it unlikely to stay a secret. </span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span class="mol-style-bold"><b>The X-37B deploys spy satellites</b>:</span> Instead
 of destroying them, the theory suggests that the space plane's orbit 
matches up to where deployed satellites would work best for spying on 
other countries.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
</div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<br /></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'The
 US government has a bottomless appetite for sensitive information,' 
said Steven Aftergood, a secrecy expert at the Federation of American 
Scientists.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'As
 powerful as our intelligence satellites may be, they also have their 
limitations - most notably the limitations imposed by their orbital 
parameters.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'It's conceivable that a spy plane would introduce new versatility into overhead reconnaissance.'</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The
 X-37B space drone, otherwise known as the Orbital Test Vehicle, is 
blasted into orbit by a rocket. However, it lands using a runway like a 
normal aircraft.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The
 X-37B is too small to carry people onboard, but does have a cargo bay 
similar to that of a pickup truck, which is just large enough to carry a
 small satellite.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<br /></div>
<div class="artSplitter mol-img-group">
    <div class="mol-img">
  <div class="image-wrap fff-pic" style="cursor: pointer;">
<img alt="One secrecy expert has told DailyMail.com that the drone (artist's impression ) is 'likely' to be a spy plane" class="blkBorder img-share" height="387" id="i-e8af02a4aa85ac40" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/10/20/1413827636838_wps_3_America_s_secret_space_pl.jpg" width="634" /><div class="share-pictures-overlay" id="share-pictures-4">
  
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="imageCaption">
One secrecy expert has told DailyMail.com that the drone (artist's impression ) is 'likely' to be a spy plane</div>
<div class="imageCaption">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="moduleFull mol-video">
<a class="namedLink" href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3088517/Top-secret-X-37B-space-plane-blast-tomorrow-morning-don-t-know-orbit-back.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490" name="video"></a><div class="item">
  <div id="v-3846675119001" style="width: 636px;">
  <div class="videoplayer-large" style="overflow-y: hidden;">
    <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">
      
      <div class="videoplayer-title">
The mysterious X-37B returns to earth after TWO YEARS in orbit</div>
<span class="playbtn"></span>
      <center>
        <img class="plcHlder" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/10/18/video-undefined-225410B300000578-410_636x358.jpg" />
      </center>
</a>
  </div>
<div class="sciencetech">
    
  </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<br /></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The X-program has bounced between several federal agencies, Nasa among them, since 1999.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The plane has been in space for a total of 674 days, far more than its two previous flights which lasted 225 and 469 days.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The program's first mission launched in April 2010 and landed in December that year.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The second space plane took off on March 2011 and came back to Earth in June 2012.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">According
 to X-37B manufacturer Boeing, the space plane operates in low-earth 
orbit, between 110 (177km) and 500 miles (800km) above earth.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">By comparison, the International Space Station orbits at about 220 miles (350km).</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<br /></div>
<div class="artSplitter">
<div>
  <div class="image-wrap fff-pic" style="cursor: pointer;">
<img alt="This December 3, 2010, image by the Vandenberg Air Force Base shows technicians examining the X-37B unmanned spaceplane shortly after landing at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California" class="blkBorder img-share" height="443" id="i-2c061cd495439fc9" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/10/20/1413826088755_wps_2_FILE_In_this_Dec_3_2010_f.jpg" width="634" /><div class="share-pictures-overlay" id="share-pictures-5">
  
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="imageCaption">
This December 3, 2010, image by the 
Vandenberg Air Force Base shows technicians examining the X-37B unmanned
 spaceplane shortly after landing at Vandenberg Air Force Base, 
California</div>
</div>
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  <span> </span></div>
<div class="item" data-track-module="am-external-links^external-links" id="external-source-links">
<span>Read more:</span>
  <ul>
<li><a class="js-tl" href="http://www.space.com/29221-x37b-military-space-plane-fourth-mission.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mysterious X-37B Military Space Plane to Fly Again Next Month</a></li>
<li><a class="js-tl" href="http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/04/27/x-37b-launch-date-firms-up-as-new-details-emerge-about-experiment/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">New details emerge about electric propulsion experiment aboard X-37B | Spaceflight Now</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>

X-37B space-aircraft set to fly on its fourth secret mission

Top secret X-37B space plane to blast off this morning - and we still don't know what it will do in orbit or when it will be back ...

Mysterious X-37B Military Space Plane to Fly Again Next Month

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1 id="ext-gen131">
<span style="font-size: large;">Top secret X-37B space plane will fly next month using an 'experimental propulsion system', reveals the US Air Force</span></h1>
<ul class="mol-bullets-with-font">
<li class=""><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>X-37B space drone will take off on its fourth secret mission on May 20</strong></span></li>
<li class=""><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Theories ranged from it being a space bomber to destroying satellites</strong></span></li>
<li class=""><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>The flight will test a system that makes satellites easy to manoeuvre</strong></span></li>
<li class=""><span style="font-size: 1.4em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>This is probably a small part of the vehicle's true mission, say experts</strong></span><strong></strong></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="author-section byline-plain">
<i>By

Ellie Zolfagharifard For Dailymail</i>

</div>
<br /><div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The mystery of the top-secret X-37B space drone has baffled military experts for decades.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Theories have ranged from it being a space bomber ready to attack, to a secret probe on a mission to 'take out' spy satellites.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Now,
 in an unprecedented disclosure, the Department of Defense has revealed 
details about the X-37B latest mission, which is due to take off on May 
20.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<br /></div>
<div class="artSplitter mol-img-group">
    <div class="mol-img">
  <div class="image-wrap fff-pic" style="cursor: pointer;">
<img alt="In an unprecedented disclosure, the Department of Defense has revealed details about the X-37B latest mission, which is due to take off on May 20.  '[We] are investigating an experimental propulsion system on the X-37B on Mission 4,' Captain Chris Hoyler, an Air Force spokesman said" class="blkBorder img-share" height="655" id="i-b297dca12fb61883" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/10/13/1413189873436_Image_galleryImage_The_Boeing_built_X_37B_th.JPG" width="634" /><div class="share-pictures-overlay" id="share-pictures-1">
  
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="imageCaption" id="ext-gen129">
In an unprecedented 
disclosure, the Department of Defense has revealed details about the 
X-37B latest mission, which is due to take off on May 20.  '[We] are 
investigating an experimental propulsion system on the X-37B on Mission 
4,' Captain Chris Hoyler, an Air Force spokesman said</div>
<div class="imageCaption" id="ext-gen129">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="art-ins mol-factbox floatRHS sciencetech">
                <h3 class="wocc">
                    <span style="background-color: #f9cb9c;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">X-37B'S MYSTERY MISSIONS </span></span>                </h3>
<div class="ins cleared xolcc bdrcc">
                    <div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The U.S. Air Force's unmanned X-37B space plane has flown three secret missions to date.</span></span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Each time it has carried a mystery payload on long-duration flights in Earth orbit.</span></span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The
 spacecraft looks similar to Nasa's space shuttle but is much smaller. 
The X-37B is about 29ft (8.8m) long and 9.5ft (2.9 m) tall.</span></span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">It has a wingspan of just less than 15ft (4.6 m). At launch, it weighs 11,000lbs (4,990kg).</span></span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The craft is taken into orbit on a rocket but lands like the space shuttle by gliding down to Earth.</span></span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'[We]
 are investigating an experimental propulsion system on the X-37B on 
Mission 4,' Captain Chris Hoyler, an Air Force spokesman, told <a class="" href="http://www.space.com/29221-x37b-military-space-plane-fourth-mission.html" rel="nofollow" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Space.com</a>.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'The
 Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office will also host a number of advance 
materials onboard the X-37B for Nasa to study the durability of various 
materials in the space environment,' Hoyler added.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><a class="" href="http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/04/27/x-37b-launch-date-firms-up-as-new-details-emerge-about-experiment/" rel="nofollow" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Spaceflightnow.com</a> revealed more details of the flight, which is described as a 'hall thruster electric propulsion test.'</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">It
 is intended to improve performance of the units onboard Advanced 
Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) military communications spacecraft, 
officials said today.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">AEHF
 satellites' Hall thrusters are 4.5-kilowatt units that use electricity 
and xenon to produce thrust for moving satellites in space.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The benefit of using electric propulsion is that its xenon fuel weighs much less than traditional hydrazine.</span></div>
<div>
<div class="related-carousel with-fb sciencetech" data-track-module="am-related_carousel^related_carousel" data-track-pos="static" data-track-selector=".rotator-panels a:not([class*=external])" id="p-16">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">This technology could help in the development of technologies to control satellites with better accuracy.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">However,
 experts claim that refining an advanced manoeuvring thruster is 
probably just a small part of the vehicle's true mission set.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">One
 leading secrecy expert previously told DailyMail.com that the drone is 
'very likely' be used to test technologies that will increase spying 
capabilities of the US.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<br /></div>
<div class="artSplitter mol-img-group">
    <div class="mol-img">
  <div class="image-wrap fff-pic" style="cursor: pointer;">
<img alt="Like a shuttle, X-37B is blasted into orbit by a rocket. However, it lands using a runway like a normal aircraft. The X-37B is too small to carry people onboard, but does have a cargo bay similar to that of a pickup truck, which is just large enough to carry a small satellite" class="blkBorder img-share" height="702" id="i-9f3a3e57678eb9f0" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/10/20/1413827936552_wps_6_America_s_secret_space_pl.jpg" width="634" /><div class="share-pictures-overlay" id="share-pictures-2">
  
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="imageCaption">
Like a shuttle, X-37B is blasted into 
orbit by a rocket. However, it lands using a runway like a normal 
aircraft. The X-37B is too small to carry people onboard, but does have a
 cargo bay similar to that of a pickup truck, which is just large enough
 to carry a small satellite</div>
<div class="imageCaption">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="artSplitter">
<div>
  <div class="image-wrap fff-pic" style="cursor: pointer;">
<img alt="An infrared view of the X-37B unmanned spacecraft landing at Vandenberg Air Force Base.  The purpose of the U.S. military's space plane is classified" class="blkBorder img-share" height="442" id="i-abbf413324692396" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/10/20/1413824824241_wps_1_This_June_16_2012_file_im.jpg" width="634" /><div class="share-pictures-overlay" id="share-pictures-3">
  
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="imageCaption">
An infrared view of the X-37B unmanned 
spacecraft landing at Vandenberg Air Force Base. </div>
<div class="imageCaption">
The purpose of the 
U.S. military's space plane is classified</div>
<div class="imageCaption">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="art-ins mol-factbox sciencetech floatRHS">
                <h3 class="wocc">
                    <span style="background-color: #f9cb9c;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">TOP FOUR CONSPIRACY THEORIES</span></span></h3>
<div class="ins cleared xolcc bdrcc">
                    <div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span class="mol-style-bold"><b>The space plane is a spy plane</b>:</span> The leading theory appears to be that the unmanned space plane is a shuttle-shaped surveillance vehicle. </span></span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span class="mol-style-bold"><b>It could be a space bomber</b>:</span> This
 is the least likely theory, according tot Seven Aftergood, a secrecy 
expert at the Federation of American Scientists. He claims the US 
doesn't need this capability. </span></span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span class="mol-style-bold"><b>It is on a mission is to 'take out' satellites</b>:</span> This activity would be easily traceable, making it unlikely to stay a secret. </span></span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span class="mol-style-bold"><b>The X-37B deploys spy satellites</b>:</span> Instead
 of destroying them, the theory suggests that the space plane's orbit 
matches up to where deployed satellites would work best for spying on 
other countries.</span></span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
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<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'The
 US government has a bottomless appetite for sensitive information,' 
said Steven Aftergood, a secrecy expert at the Federation of American 
Scientists.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'As
 powerful as our intelligence satellites may be, they also have their 
limitations - most notably the limitations imposed by their orbital 
parameters.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'It's conceivable that a spy plane would introduce new versatility into overhead reconnaissance.'</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The
 X-37B space drone, otherwise known as the Orbital Test Vehicle, is 
blasted into orbit by a rocket. However, it lands using a runway like a 
normal aircraft.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The
 X-37B is too small to carry people onboard, but does have a cargo bay 
similar to that of a pickup truck, which is just large enough to carry a
 small satellite.</span></div>
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One secrecy expert has told DailyMail.com that the drone (artist's impression ) is 'likely' to be a spy plane</div>
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<a class="namedLink" href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3058360/Top-secret-X-37B-craft-fly-month-using-experimental-propulsion-reveal-Air-Force.html" name="video"></a><div class="item">
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<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">The mysterious X-37B returns to earth after TWO YEARS in orbit</a> </span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<br /></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The X-program has bounced between several federal agencies, Nasa among them, since 1999.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The plane has been in space for a total of 674 days, far more than its two previous flights which lasted 225 and 469 days.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The program's first mission launched in April 2010 and landed in December that year.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The second space plane took off on March 2011 and came back to Earth in June 2012.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">According
 to X-37B manufacturer Boeing, the space plane operates in low-earth 
orbit, between 110 (177km) and 500 miles (800km) above earth.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">By comparison, the International Space Station orbits at about 220 miles (350km).</span></div>
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<img alt="This December 3, 2010, image by the Vandenberg Air Force Base shows technicians examining the X-37B unmanned spaceplane shortly after landing at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California" class="blkBorder img-share" height="443" id="i-2c061cd495439fc9" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/10/20/1413826088755_wps_2_FILE_In_this_Dec_3_2010_f.jpg" width="634" /><div class="share-pictures-overlay" id="share-pictures-5">
  
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This December 3, 2010, image by the 
Vandenberg Air Force Base shows technicians examining the X-37B unmanned
 spaceplane shortly after landing at Vandenberg Air Force Base, 
California</div>
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<img alt="Recovery Crew Processes X-37B Space Plane" class="" height="426" src="http://i.space.com/images/i/000/047/230/i02/x37b-space-plane-landing-recovery-oct17-2014.JPG?1429915930" width="640" /></div>
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<div class="imageCaption">
A recovery team processes the U.S. Air Force's X-37B space plane after the robotic spacecraft's successful landing at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Oct. 17, 2014. The touchdown marked the end of the X-37B’s third space mission. Credit: Boeing</div>
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  <u><span>Read more:</span></u></div>
<div class="item" data-track-module="am-external-links^external-links" id="external-source-links">
<span> </span></div>
<div class="item" data-track-module="am-external-links^external-links" id="external-source-links" style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.space.com/27478-secretive-x-37b-space-plane-lands-at-vandenberg-afb-video.html">Secretive X-37B Space Plane Lands At Vandenberg AFB | Video</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.space.com/25244-skywatcher-captures-video-of-x-37b-unmanned-military-space-plane-video.html">Skywatcher Captures Video Of X-37B Unmanned Military Space Plane | Video</a>  </li>
<li><a href="http://www.space.com/29221-x37b-military-space-plane-fourth-mission.html">Mysterious X-37B Military Space Plane to Fly Again Next Month</a></li>
<li><a href="http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/04/27/x-37b-launch-date-firms-up-as-new-details-emerge-about-experiment/">X-37B launch date firms up as new details emerge about experiment | Spaceflight Now</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
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