US Space Force reveals first look at secretive X-37B space plane in orbit (opens in new tab)

You say Buck Rogers, but I hear the Muppets with Piiiigs in Spaaaaace!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmI77ZBeJrQ

a pretty good satire of the whole thing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Force_(TV_series)

My understanding is it’s on an offset elliptical orbit. This is essentially the farthest point away from earth with the other end of orbit being very close to Earth.

From a tactical perspective, that means this can interact with basically any other satellite.

One use for highly elliptical orbits is being able to linger over some part of the earth for longer periods.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molniya_orbit

I haven't seen the orbital parameters of the X-37, so it may be in an elliptical orbit for some other reason, such as spying on or interfering with geostationary satellites or who knows what else.

This thing is definitely out of SAM range, so that's an advantage.

Possibly easier for optics?

Lower orbit = faster velocity.

So your screaming by over Emutopia's enrichment plant, and trying to take photos.

Telephotography might be an easier solve than faster image capture for the same resolution and clarity. A higher orbit means you have to do less drastic tracking corrections to observe the same area while over it.

Alternative: it's a space plane and has been mentioned it uses aero braking for orbital adjustments. A highly elliptical orbit imparts a significant chunk of potential energy that can be expended for orbital changes using aero braking instead of needing to expend limited propellent.

Source: personal experience with several hundred hours of KSP.

I assume better survivability against anti-satellite weapons.

"Why might it be desirable to have an observation craft so far away from the earth?"

more range the merrier in case there is alien invasion. you would need aircraft that allow travel interplanetary system

maybe observing satellites, in real time, in multiple orbits, and yeah, maybe just free parking (and testing orbital transitions).

How can you tell that is the earth?

Less predictable orbit.

Given the constraints of reaching orbit, surviving reentry, and cross-range capabilities there's a general lack of variability in spacecraft design. Some of us are old enough to remember promotional/propaganda materials concerning the original Boeing X-20 "Dyna-Soar" engineering designs from the 1950s which strongly resemble the subsequent US Space Shuttle, the Soviet Buran orbiter, and the Boeing X-37B and X-40:

<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_X-20_Dyna-Soar>

How big is the payload bay on this thing? The whole craft is only 29 feet long, so it's not carrying a Hubble in to orbit.

Are there any books to read that talk about the military missions of the Space Shuttle?

The US Space Force was part of the US Air Force until just a few years ago, and a around 75 years ago the US Air Force was the US Army Air Corps.

I think it still belongs to the Air Force RCO

This flight was launched with a Falcon Heavy, that is why it has more energy to reach high orbit than the previous launches with an Atlas V booster.

When you are in a highly eccentric orbit (meaning the point in the orbit farthest from Earth (apogee) is much higher than the lowest point (perigee)) like this one there are several maneuvers you can do to significantly change your orbit with relatively little energy. The article describes some of the things they are testing.

A small breaking burn at apogee will lower the perigee into the upper atmosphere and they can then do aerobreaking (use atmospheric drag to lose energy) to slow down enough to land.

It has been to space several times, and there are photos and videos of it returning, shuttle-style on a runway.

By carefully timing boosting burns at different points in the orbit, you can change the orbit to become highly inclined - go prograde at the periapsis, and your raise the apogee.

From the image, I guess they are in a Molniar orbit [1].

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molniya_orbit

By using an Atlas V booster.

*Financially secure.

Service guarantees citizenship! -Starship Troopers

Pretty far. In LEO it's hard to see much of Earth in one shot since you're still so close.

https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/x-37.htm

This source indicates an 38,000 km apogee, which is is about 1/10 the distance to the moon, and just barely beyond geostationary.

In the book Skunk Works, Ben Rich laments that Lockheed was often passed over for contracts and missions because their achievements were so classified that the various branches of the military didn't know that things like stealth technology were possible, let alone already in production. Sometimes weren't even invited to bid on projects to develop technology that they'd already developed.

Marketing of secret projects is a tricky business!

That's exactly what I was thinking too. With all the chainsaws on display and rumors of deep cuts, makes sense for them to explain a bit to regulars about why they exist and how well things are going.

one would be excused to think you made this account just for the sake of aptronym and comment, but alas, 3k+ karma

Article mentions that it's in a highly elliptical orbit.