X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV)

publiusr said:
Nice to know it isn’t just Buran you look down on :)

At any rate—let me throw this into the mix.

They were very careful to show only a bit of the payload bay—but the aft section is what interests me.

Falcon Heavy gave this bird quite the thump…it may have a bit more hypergolics—but there may be another another way to give X-37 a bit more agility.

Byeman is right about wings not being of much use at its altitude.

What if it has a big tether?

Spin down for an orbital change—THEN use wings.

Not even a thruster puff visible. Just hang out…gradually feed out some line—then turn loose.

Falcon upper stage the counterweight…maybe like the one that broke up over Poland? It might be interesting to backtrack that.
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Tethers, if they will ever make it to space (which I extremely highly doubt), would be for routine high volume operations into a fixed orbit, but not for on call missions like USAF on demand space-plane launches into all kinds of orbits with respect to inclination/perigee/apogee.
 
It is the only way I know of where you can get a relatively sharp re-direction.

Have enough in orbit—each spinning in a different direction—surely one in the mix is rotating towards where you want it.

I think the best use of the concept would be to reach bodies in space with a pretty steep inclination.

Coast in the general direction, deploy and spin.

Empty stage goes one way, while your payload is slung to a different inclination.
 
publiusr said:
It is the only way I know of where you can get a relatively sharp re-direction.

Have enough in orbit—each spinning in a different direction—surely one in the mix is rotating towards where you want it.

I think the best use of the concept would be to reach bodies in space with a pretty steep inclination.

Coast in the general direction, deploy and spin.

Empty stage goes one way, while your payload is slung to a different inclination.
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I *honestly* have absolutely no idea what you are referring to - are you envisaging retrograde orbits???
 
Gravity gradient might ruin my scheme.

Think of a lot of Molniya orbit tether bolas.

Let go on a descending node—then use wings

Swing low, sweet chariot…
 
publiusr said:
It is the only way I know of where you can get a relatively sharp re-direction.

Have enough in orbit—each spinning in a different direction—surely one in the mix is rotating towards where you want it.
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Not feasible. Where is the counter masses kept?
Too restrictive. Too many would be required to cover all the orbits.

Again, another attempt to throw something at the wall to see if it sticks but not even hitting the wall.
Need to do some basic analysis first and stop basing ideas on your "feelings" because they are not well rounded. Learn that spaceflight and spaceflight history is not Huntsville centric. In the US, rocket science existed before Operation Paperclip.
 
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publiusr said:
Think of a lot of Molniya orbit tether bolas.
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Here is the problem. This doesn't work, telling other people to "think" like you. We don't have shared experiences* and with so little words, it doesn't describe what you are trying to convey. If you see in all the forums that you post (spam), they mostly go ignored because they don't understand them or you get a lot of thumbs down.

* this is described in the preceding post.
 
Byeman said:
That is on you for not understanding orbital mechanics. I did not contradict myself once.
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Do you work for Space Force ? Are you in the X-37 B program ? . This debate is going nowhere, so is it possible to come back on the X-37 B thread ?
 
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As the poster choose to edit his older post instead of replying, I will complete here:
you are sticking to your college degree pictogram. You need to change the referencial to adhere to the core of the discussion.
NRO doesn't care much where the orbital equivalent axis is, but probably attach some importance to the overflown pattern during the perigee.
If you've changed that from Paris to Moscow in a timely, unpredictable fashion, you might have achieved something.
 
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Excuse my ignorance on such things, but a couple of questions about the the picture of Earth taken by the X-37B.

1. Can it be calculated how far from Earth the picture was taken.
2. The elliptical orbit that it takes, is that pre programmed before flight ?
2. The resolution is amazing I am surprised how clear the picture looks as it was taken in Space, considering there is space dust between the two.

Thanks
Robert
 
TomcatViP said:
As always, implying that others are imbeciles to pulp the plattitude of your vision on intricated problems:
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That can really hurt—for years I was captivated by tank farm concepts:

DAVID BRIN: The External Tank: The Key to Space Exploration and Expansion?

How might human beings live and work in space? Some enthusiastic studies have suggested that colonies in orbit or on the Moon could mean the beginning of a new era of prosperity, once the resources of space are exploited by advanced industries.
www.davidbrin.com www.davidbrin.com

-only to be belittled.

His words carry great weight..for he does have much experience.

But folks who worked on such concepts were bright too…they just never had Elon’s money.

Had I that type of wealth—I’d give it to the artists here…makers like Adam Savage…advocates…anything to keep thinkers from having to work two and three jobs until they’re ground into paste…like what has happened to me.
 
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publiusr said:
That can really hurt—for years I was captivated by tank farm concepts:

DAVID BRIN: The External Tank: The Key to Space Exploration and Expansion?

How might human beings live and work in space? Some enthusiastic studies have suggested that colonies in orbit or on the Moon could mean the beginning of a new era of prosperity, once the resources of space are exploited by advanced industries.
www.davidbrin.com www.davidbrin.com

-only to be belittled.

His words carry great weight..for he does have much experience.

But folks who worked on such concepts were bright too…they just never had Elon’s money.
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IIRC one of the Space Shuttles was scheduled to carry its' ET into a circular orbit to test delivery of an ET to Earth orbit in 1986 but then this idea was dropped in the wake of the Challenger disaster.
 
The tone of the one-vs-one discussion had become unacceptable !
Please calm down and return to sensible manners again !
(Several posts deleted )
 
Rolead said:
Excuse my ignorance on such things, but a couple of questions about the the picture of Earth taken by the X-37B.

1. Can it be calculated how far from Earth the picture was taken.
2. The elliptical orbit that it takes, is that pre programmed before flight ?
2. The resolution is amazing I am surprised how clear the picture looks as it was taken in Space, considering there is space dust between the two.

Thanks
Robert
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1. Yes
2. the original elliptical orbit was "pre programmed" before flight because that was what the launch vehicle put it in. Subsequent maneuvers are commanded from the ground
3. There is no "space dust" that affects imaging in earth orbit. The X-37 is nearly at the same or lower altitude that weather satellites use.
 
publiusr said:
That can really hurt—for years I was captivated by tank farm concepts:
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You have done worse. You have made outrageous claims and accusations for decades without providing proof or data to support them and spamming them on multiple forums. You have accused military personnel of lying and being underhanded. You make inane claims that are discredited in one place and then still go and post them on other places.
 
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NMaude said:
IIRC one of the Space Shuttles was scheduled to carry its' ET into a circular orbit to test delivery of an ET to Earth orbit in 1986 but then this idea was dropped in the wake of the Challenger disaster.
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Never was in the actual plans.
 
TomcatViP said:
@Jemiba : hadn't I flagged this very one as lacking what you call sensible manners (beside of being a shameless lie) ?

I can still see it in the thread.
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wrong again.
a. It was in the context of 2012 and it was about the propellant load and being launched into low earth orbits.
b. X-37 can't perform much aero maneuvering from low earth orbits.
c. the current orbit is useless for microsats
d. the point still stands. X-37 isn't a good platform for "responsive"deployment of micro sats.
 
I've tried to remove this long-running argument between @Byeman and @TomcatViP from the topic as best I can.

Just, STOP.

Both of you are being very rude to each other. @Byeman has highly useful subject-specific knowledge, but lacks some social skills it appears. @TomcatViP, you allowed yourself to be provoked into equally rude posts back.

Behave better or both will be banned from replying to this topic. Which would be a shame.
 
So at what distance was the Earth picture taken please.
Byeman said:
1. Yes
2. the original elliptical orbit was "pre programmed" before flight because that was what the launch vehicle put it in. Subsequent maneuvers are commanded from the ground
3. There is no "space dust" that affects imaging in earth orbit. The X-37 is nearly at the same or lower altitude that weather satellites use.
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overscan (PaulMM) said:
I've tried to remove this long-running argument between @Byeman and @TomcatViP from the topic as best I can.

Just, STOP.

Both of you are being very rude to each other. @Byeman has highly useful subject-specific knowledge, but lacks some social skills it appears. @TomcatViP, you allowed yourself to be provoked into equally rude posts back.

Behave better or both will be banned from replying to this topic. Which would be a shame.
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I think you are over relying on @Byeman alleged knowhow that I have proved is quite hollowed in fact and cristalized around a very basic academics. The lack of mathematics is flagrant with this X-37 orbital painful discussion.

Re-inventing your say by coalescing other inputs and feeling free to the be confrontational with other users is a sign of a disfunction. This forum should be a place of polite and gentle exchange and not like those of nutty video gamers.
 
TomcatViP said:
I think you are over relying on @Byeman alleged knowhow that I have proved is quite hollowed in fact and cristalized around a very basic academics. The lack of mathematics is flagrant with this X-37 orbital painful discussion.
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I find this statement pretty unpleasant. See Forum rules -

Personal attacks, insults or the belittling of the opinions of others, will ALWAYS be considered inappropriate. Disagree (tactfully and respectfully) all you like with their ideas or opinions, but don't resort to insults, name-calling or flaming. Argue facts, not personalities. 'Ad hominem' is a logical fallacy and will generally result in disciplinary action.
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Its also OFF TOPIC.
TomcatViP said:
Re-inventing your say by coalescing other inputs and feeling free to the be confrontational with other users is a sign of a disfunction. This forum should be a place of polite and gentle exchange and not like those of nutty video gamers.
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Absolutely agree. See your previous point and reflect on it.
 
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https://twitter.com/x/status/1898001843499794897
View: https://x.com/SpaceForceDoD/status/1898001843499794897

www.defensenews.com

US military’s mini space shuttle returns to Earth after secret mission

The Space Force's unmanned X-37B blasted into orbit from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in December 2023 on a secret mission.
www.defensenews.com www.defensenews.com

www.airandspaceforces.com

X-37B Spaceplane Showed New Techniques in Latest Flight

X-37B, the secretive Space Force spaceplane, returned to Vandenberg Space Force Base on March 7 after more than a year in orbit.
www.airandspaceforces.com www.airandspaceforces.com
 
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X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle concludes seventh successful mission [Mar 7]

The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle-7 (OTV-7), the U.S. Space Force’s dynamic unmanned spaceplane, successfully deorbited and landed at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, March 7, 2025 at 02:22 a.m. EST.

The U.S. Space Force landed the X-37B at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, to exercise its rapid ability to launch and recover its systems across multiple sites. X-37B’s Mission 7 was the first launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy Rocket to a Highly Elliptical Orbit. While on orbit, Mission 7 accomplished a range of test and experimentation objectives intended to demonstrate the X-37B’s robust maneuver capability while helping characterize the space domain through the testing of space domain awareness technology experiments.

The successful completion of the novel aerobraking maneuver demonstrated the agile and flexible capabilities the X-37B provides the United States Space Force. Drawing on decades of lessons learned from previous space missions, this technique involves the use of atmospheric drag over the course of multiple passes to change orbits while expending minimal fuel.

“Mission 7 broke new ground by showcasing the X-37B’s ability to flexibly accomplish its test and experimentation objectives across orbital regimes. The successful execution of the aerobraking maneuver underscores the U.S. Space Force’s commitment to pushing the bounds of novel space operations in a safe and responsible manner,” said Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman.

While in orbit, Mission 7 tested space domain awareness technology experiments that aim to improve the United States Space Force’s knowledge of the space environment. These technologies are critical to the U.S. Space Force’s ability to conduct space operations in an increasingly congested and contested environment of space, to the benefit of all users of the domain. After aerobraking to a Low Earth Orbit and completing its test and experimentation objectives, Mission 7 successfully performed its deorbit and landing procedures.

Commenting on Mission 7’s achievements, the X-37B Program Director, Lt. Col. Blaine Stewart stated, “Mission 7’s operation in a new orbital regime, its novel aerobraking maneuver, and its testing of space domain awareness experiments have written an exciting new chapter in the X-37B program. Considered together, they mark a significant milestone in the ongoing development of the U.S. Space Force’s dynamic mission capability.”

The seventh mission remained on-orbit for over 434 days.
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