Space plane and its secret payload set for launch

[n2doc]

y W.J. Hennigan
March 3, 2011, 5:36 p.m.

An experimental robotic space plane developed for the Air Force is slated to launch Friday from Cape Canaveral, fueling an ongoing mystery about its hush-hush payload and overall mission.

Watching the pilotless spacecraft along with the Pentagon will also be wary Russian and Chinese military officials who have raised questions about U.S. intentions since the government launched its first version of the secret plane into orbit almost a year ago.

The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle looks like a miniature version of the space shuttle. Because of its clandestine nature, some industry analysts have theorized it could be a precursor to an orbiting weapon, capable of dropping bombs or disabling foreign satellites as it circles the globe.

"It's a mystery, because the Air Force is being so closed-mouthed about the program," said Brian Weeden, a former Air Force officer and expert in space security. "It leads people to say, 'What exactly are they hiding?'"

more
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-space-plane-20110304,0,2891507.story

[Rex]

1. Looks like a mission for Bond, James Bond.

[Pterodactyl]

2. Very cool!

[Ichingcarpenter]

3. This was a NASA plane that got cut but the Air Force had tons of $$$$ to pick it up

from NASA.....

yes that's what happened.... the military could afford it
but NASA couldn't.

[n2doc]

4. Too bad NASA couldn't get the new heavy lifter rocket on the military dime

14 billion is chump change for the DOD.

[Ichingcarpenter]

5. Estimated War-Related Costs, Iraq and Afghanistan

According to the Center for Defense Information, the estimated cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will reach $1.29 trillion by the end of fiscal year 2011.

Read more: Estimated War-Related Costs, Iraq and Afghanistan — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0933935.html#ixzz1Femz7guq


Yep.... chump change and NASA's budget is frozen for 5 years right now

[MilesColtrane]

6. Rods From God

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_bombardment

[Shagbark Hickory]

7. Hopefully they're deporting the extra terrestrials that took our jobs.

:sarcasm: