Originally posted by darpa999
Interesting.

But one thing that wonders me about this, that how does the unmanned vehicle know when to land at Edwards AFB when VBG is not available due to weather?

Is there like a group of controllers from the ground programming its onboard GPS with the coordinates for the X-37B to head to Edwards in case of a backup landing there?

So next time the X-37B lands at Vandenberg, will it always be coming in from the ocean straight-in for runway 12 since runway 30 would tend to land the X-37B over populated area, Lompoc being one of them?

edit on 30-6Jun-122012 by darpa999 because: (no reason given)

8.2.5 Flight Over Populated Areas Routine UAS operations shall not be conducted over urban or populated areas. UAS operations may be approved in emergency or relief situations if the proposed mitigation strategies are found to be acceptable.

8.2.6 Flight Over Heavily Trafficked Roads or Open-air Assembly of People UAS operations shall avoid these areas. If flight in these areas is required, the applicant will be required to support proposed mitigations with system safety studies that indicate the operations can be conducted safely. Acceptable system safety studies must include a hazard analysis, risk assessment, and other appropriate documentation that support an “extremely improbable” determination. Additionally, it is the applicant’s responsibility to demonstrate that injury to persons or property along the flight path is extremely improbable. UAS with performance characteristics that impede normal air traffic operations may be restricted in their operations.