The U.S. Air Force's X-37B space plane is just eight days away from setting a record on its current clandestine mission.
If the robotic vehicle stays aloft until March 25, it will break the X-37B mission-duration mark of 674 days, which was established back in October 2014.
It's unclear whether that will actually happen, however; the Air Force is tight-lipped about most X-37B payloads and activities, including touchdown plans. [The X-37B's Fourth Mystery Mission in Photos]
"The landing date will be determined based on the completion of the program's on-orbit demonstrations and objectives for this mission," Capt. AnnMarie Annicelli, an Air Force spokeswoman, told Space.com via email when asked when the current mission might end.
Footage from the mission, dubbed "Operation Crossbow," was leaked.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by looorg on Saturday March 18 2017, @03:14PM (5 children)
Still the question remains - what is it doing up there. The answers seem to go from secret laser/doomsday weapons to spying and reconnaissance.
http://www.airspacemag.com/space/spaceplane-x-37-180957777/ [airspacemag.com]
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 18 2017, @08:57PM (1 child)
Sounds like its flying....
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 18 2017, @11:51PM
From where I stand, it's more like orbiting.
(Score: 2) by Murdoc on Saturday March 18 2017, @11:46PM (1 child)
The answers seem to go from secret laser/doomsday weapons...
Wasn't "Crossbow" the name of the secret government program in the movie Real Genius to make a space plane with a laser that could assassinate people from orbit? =:o
(Score: 3, Funny) by c0lo on Saturday March 18 2017, @11:57PM
So... you are suggesting X-37B is the Boeing way of making popcorn.
I find myself intrigued.
https://www.youtube.com/@ProfSteveKeen https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 19 2017, @11:20AM
Orbital weapons program.