Surveillance Suspected as Spacecraft's (X-37B) Main Role

reply to post by orangetom1999


Actually, a space-based laser could be effective at lower power levels than an Earth-bound, or airborne laser.


The reason? The Atmosphere.


Earth's atmosphere tends to diffuse the energy of a laser's beam. Thus, over long distances, the initial energy requirement must be significantly higher than the expected amount to be delivered on target.


There is little to no atmosphere in space, so the initial energy requirement of a space based laser could be much less than one forced to cut through miles of air.

And lets not forget the abundant solar power available in space: 24/7.



But all this only really makes sense it the intended targets are, themselves, in space.


And currently, that rather limits the potential players.

Here's praying that something alien disables our space weapons.

Now that would make me laugh - your trillions of dollars are worth nothing ...

reply to post by susp3kt


As unsexy as this might sound, we know that the Shuttle's mission life is coming to an end. This thing looks like a mini-shuttle, so it will respond similiar to a full-size shuttle, has a payload bay, wings, tail, rockts, etc. all in the same places. So maybe it's a test bed for replacing the Shuttle with a fully remote-controlled replacement? After all, if the Shuttle is mostly used for carefully deploying payloads or moving freight to ISS, it's known functions could be theoretically replaced with a remote controlled model.

I just think there are plenty of ways to launch satellites or weapons directly, without needing a shuttle-type carrier, if that's what this was. But LEO shuttle-type payloads might be handle-able by a remote-controlled craft.

reply to post by Bhadhidar



What ????? Don't you still have to shoot down through the atmosphere to get to targets here on earth??

You mean they don't have weapons which can target moving objects in space...but launched from here on earth????

You mean there are not dedicated groups of peoples here on earth, specialists, who's main job is do break the control codes for satellites and make them do what they want or at least monitor the activity??

I think some of you are looking or plowing in in the wrong fields. You have lasers on the brain. There are other ways of working ones way through life without lasers. Lasers are not the do all and tell all of life.

The X37 appears to me to be a cheaper transport vehicle. Surely it can be reconfigured to carry multiple loads. Remember how much and how many breakthroughs in automation and automatic controls have taken place since the first space shuttle was built. Start with the remote controllers for your televisions, stereos, and automobiles/cell phones.

I remember being at an air show at the local Air Force base. I was standing there looking at a heavily modified U2 aircraft. It quickly became clear to me that the aircraft was merely a transport vehicle into which could be inserted different packages or modules for various tasks. There were umbilical plug in adapters for power and data. It was obvious that these modules could be tailored..pre built for certain missions or tasks. Just ready the plane and switch out the modules.
The other aspect was..... is this information's stored on the plane or downloaded to a satellite or ground control station before being relayed to some other destination. My guess is that it can be downloaded and sent on as it is being monitored....viewed...real time.

Nonetheless...it was obvious that the aircraft is only a transport mechanism. One would be daft not to design into such an aircraft..the flexibility to do certain missions. Especially with modular design of the cargo packages in mind.

It is also obvious to me that the pilot is not always informed as to what they are doing ..their actual mission ...in some instances. It would be very easy to leave the pilot out of the loop. The pilot need only know enough to fly the mission..everything else could be done from the ground. The pilot themselves are only part of the transport mechanism..not the mission mechanism itself. It is only one more step to a pilot less craft.

I know that this same mission profile is done on some submarines as well..where the whole crew are nothing more than for the purpose of getting the specialists to a certain place where the mission is taking place. They are only for transport. While the specialists are working..no one can enter the area where are the specialists and their equipment...even the skipper.

That is just the way it is.

Nonetheless it is only another step to a totally pilot less vehicle.

Sometimes I think some of you watch to much Star Trek and Star Wars..or whatever they are teaching and preaching on the Si Fi channel.
Scully and Boulder!!

Thanks,
Orangetom


[edit on 24-5-2010 by orangetom1999]

Originally posted by susp3kt


The fact that they deny the X-37B being a weapons platform only fuels my idea that it might be just that.

If they came out and said that the X-37B is a weapons platform, then what idea of yours would that fuel?

Seems you already have your mind made up.

Just sayin'

Originally posted by orangetom1999
What ????? Don't you still have to shoot down through the atmosphere to get to targets here on earth??

Yes but for the purposes of testing the laser could be fired at a stationary target in space or simply into the void. That would give viable test data without havingto deal with the power requirements of testing a laser (weaponized or otherwise) within the Earth's atmosphere.

Originally posted by Aggie Man

If they came out and said that the X-37B is a weapons platform, then what idea of yours would that fuel?

Seems you already have your mind made up.

Just sayin'

The idea that we have Big government in power who since the 30's or 40's have been raping it's citizens with hidden taxes and Ponzi scheme like Social Security for one.

Then they pour our money into black budget, mostly military application weapons projects. Then use those weapons in we the people of the United State's good name, in genocide against innocent men, women, and children in places that most of us, the fluoridated zombie population of this once great country cannot even pronounce.

So yeah, I gots my mind made up man. Peace.

Edit to add:

But...in no way am I saying that those in power should not be using a limited and checked amount of capital, used to defend our nation from aggressors and enemies that have been brainwashed as much as we have, into fighting and killing the other over G.O.D. (Guns, Oil, and Drugs). That much is obvious by looking at our southern border right now, and then our mass epidemic of drug use, in all societal groups and demographics.

Instead unknown and probably staggering amounts of our robbed liquidity are being used to control and dominate us by means of their goon squad; ie. the police, 5-0, Johnny Law.

[edit on 24-5-2010 by susp3kt]

I think the X-37b is a great achievement. It is the world’s first robotic spacecraft capable of remote control take offs, 270 days of controlled space flight, and landings. It is a spy satellite plane that can fly over anywhere in the world at any time to record an aerial, high-definition video of the events as they take place in real time. That alone is pretty impressive. If modified by the military, the plane is big enough to be equipped with missiles or a nuclear weapon. If modified by NASA and fitted with enough fuel, they could technically fly to the moon and back. Hell, it could even fly to Mars or any other planet in our solar system as the eyes for humanity.

I don’t think they have decided what to do with the X-37b yet. As they have yet to take advantage of its full power. It is a huge advancement for space exploration, military power, and the success of our nation. This has to freak every other nation out and have them totally paranoid and back tracking projects while slapping themselves in the face for not thinking of this first.

The X-37b must have been in a very top secret program by the Air Force when they took over it in 2006, and has must have been mistaken and documented as a UFO countless times since then. I am sure the Federal Government wished they could have had no press on this plane’s release to force other nations to try to figure out the purpose, design, and technology on their own, but it is such a grand advancement for the scientific community that they were forced to make it public. Good for them for letting us peak inside their world for a moment!



[edit on 24-5-2010 by tooo many pills]

clues that suggest the military craft is engaged in the development of spy satellites rather than space weapons, which some experts have suspected but the Pentagon strongly denies.

Ok

Brian Weedon, a former Air Force officer now with the Secure World Foundation, a private group based in Superior, Colo., said the duration of the X-37B’s initial flight would probably depend on “how well it performs in orbit.”

Cool...

Howeverr....... Secure World Foundation?

The Fact Sheet concludes that the most likely use of the X-37B is as a flexible, quick-response space-based surveillance asset and as a platform to flight-test new space hardware and sensors.
www.secureworldfoundation.org...

Surveillance is still in the project it seems

Here's more info
www.secureworldfoundation.org...

The Secure World Foundation (SWF) is a private operating foundation dedicated to maintaining the secure and sustainable use of space for the benefit of Earth and all its peoples. SWF engages with academics, policy makers, industry, scientists and advocates in the space and international affairs communities to support steps that strengthen space security. We promote cooperative efforts to foster:

•Improved peace and security here on Earth
•Improved human security through the use of space services for development, disaster relief, humanitarian assistance, and environmental protection.
The Foundation acts as a research body, convener and facilitator to advocate for key space security and other space related topics and to examine their influence on governance and international development.

www.secureworldfoundation.org...

Originally posted by dontblink

Originally posted by orangetom1999
What ????? Don't you still have to shoot down through the atmosphere to get to targets here on earth??

Yes but for the purposes of testing the laser could be fired at a stationary target in space or simply into the void. That would give viable test data without havingto deal with the power requirements of testing a laser (weaponized or otherwise) within the Earth's atmosphere.

They don't have computer simulations for lasers...just like they build whole ships and cars on computers first...to see how things fit inside what space there is?? The operational parameters of lasers are known for certain variations in power and environments...colour lasers etc. etc. I am also sure they know the parameters of shooting at a stationary target...under vacuum. There are many vacuum chambers in this country ..one right here at the NASA Langley Research Center...about 3 miles up the road from me. It is just another step to figuring out an automatic tracking mechanism. Lots of Moon Rocks to be found in this city.

Automatic tracking mechanisms for weapons have been around since WW2...along with gyro stabilized camera platforms for reconnaissance. Similar principles. Similar principles to automatic landing systems for aircraft..even on an aircraft carrier. GPS principles have accelerated this science.

I think that in time ..if not already ..fixed orbiting satellites will be very vulnerable..if not already. Including the weather satellites, communications satellites, telephone communications et al.

Nonetheless..some of you have lasers on the brain...lasers for some reason seem to be the do all and tell all of outer space as well as inner space.
Outer space use and exploration incorporates so much more than just lasers.

As NASA themselves have stated...the primary purpose of putting satellites into orbit has not been for deep space exploration but for exploration, knowledge and control of what is happening down here on earth.

Let me translate that for you ...the primary purpose of the Hubble Telescope is to look down here..on earth..not into deep space. Oh... they carefully meter time out to astronomers on occasion..to keep up the facade..but most of the time it is looking down here. They occasionally publish sensational pictures to keep up appearances for the public..but they look down here most of the time.
There is no logical reason to put such an unbelievably expensive satellite into orbit to look into deep space...where you will not be able to travel for many many years using current propulsion technology....unless you are masking its real purpose. This would be very easy to do with a public brought up on a television education...Star Trek, Star Wars,....and whatever other outer space drivel is being spoon fed to the fancy of gullible peoples.

Intelligence information's of what is happening and needed down here is way more important that what is happening in galaxies light years away.

Thanks,
Orangetom