USAF can haz space plane

[irishScott]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8601172.stm

Cool stuff. Wonder exactly what they plan to do with it. Sure I guess if you needed to ship a delegation or... hell I don't know squad of special forces around the world on an emergency basis it could be of use, but beyond that I fail to see the point unless they're putting some kind of weapons on it. Maybe something more mundane like more cost effective satellite maintenance?

Wouldn't do much good as an emergency escape vehicle. You'd need to build wherever it was stationed around the launchpad, to a point. Not like you could just plop it in the backyard of an embassy. Well you could but if so much as an AK gets within range it's pretty much screwed unless you armor the crap out of it/the launchpad.

 

[0roo0roo]

wholly crap its small

 

[Albatross]

game over ,man,game over!

 

[Slapstick]

The possibilities for surveillance are astounding. With this every couple of hundred days you could land it change out the payload package with updated or mission specific gear and relaunch.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

NUKE IT FROM ORBIT!!!!

oh wait...

 

[Gibsons]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8601172.stm

Cool stuff. Wonder exactly what they plan to do with it. Sure I guess if you needed to ship a delegation or... hell I don't know squad of special forces around the world on an emergency basis it could be of use, but beyond that I fail to see the point unless they're putting some kind of weapons on it. Maybe something more mundane like more cost effective satellite maintenance?

Wouldn't do much good as an emergency escape vehicle. You'd need to build wherever it was stationed around the launchpad, to a point. Not like you could just plop it in the backyard of an embassy. Well you could but if so much as an AK gets within range it's pretty much screwed unless you armor the crap out of it/the launchpad.

I think this is more of a test bed than anything else. I doubt there are any plans to put people in it ever. Maybe the next version?

 

[ultimatebob]

Bah... I still say that it's for launching replacement spy satellites.

 

[Dominato3r]

USAF is by far one of the coolest branches of the US military in my opinion in terms of research. I think they have a working laser that can melt through an inch of metal.

 

[PricklyPete]

While I have no idea what they are working on it for...I just like to see that they are continuing to work on space vehicles.

 

[meltdown75]

he just a wittle guy, he too fwaid to come out

 

[FelixDeCat]

So basically its an unmanned space based auto landing vehicle, which will be the basis of our new class of predator drones?

 

[ussfletcher]

They claim that it is to test things. However there is also a good chance that it will be used to fly up to other country's satellites and see what they have going on and such.

 

[Ruptga]

Oh noes!

/tinfoil hat

 

[irishScott]

They claim that it is to test things. However there is also a good chance that it will be used to fly up to other country's satellites and see what they have going on and such.

Pretty sure the other country would notice something like that... Suppose it could jam satellites on demand if we ever go up against a country with that capability.

 

[BW86]

pretty cool

 

[thebestMAX]

I happened to catch the launch last night from my driveway. Conditions were perfect and perhaps the best launch I have ever seen. Engine flames and con trail up to first stage separation and the falling section or sections kept twinkling on and off probably due to reflected sunlight. Then engine flames with no con trails up to second stage separation and again twinkling, falling spent shells. Spectacular.

Of course my camera and binoculars were inside. I didnt want to take the chance of missing what I was seeing to go get them. :headwall3:

 

[ElFenix]

so basically nasa was working on this thing and when shrub told them to go to mars (and nasa said, 'ok, we'll go to the moon first') and started on that constellation boondoggle, they didn't have enough money to work on this. so the AF says, 'we've got $$$, we'll work on it!'

 

[shiner]

That's nothing...this thing was launched yesterday as well.

 

[OCGuy]

I love the black budget.

 

[shiner]

I love the black budget.