Black Military Shuttle ?

[stephentracey]

Does anybody have any news of any black miltary mini shuttle programs eg Boeing-built X-37 recently dropped tested from WK1.<br />Regards<br />steve

 

[mikejz]

I think a few on this board might and might even work on such a program, I just think they are smart enought not to say anything <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />On a side note, given DARPA's Falcon program, i'm not sure that if the Mil does have such a mini-shuttle, that it is proving to be as successful as they want it to be.

 

[kdavis007]

News to me...

 

[n_kitson]

I'd be somewhat doubtful about the existence of a black shuttle program. The primary purpose of a shuttle is to, well, shuttle stuff. I can't imagine what the military could bring back from space.<br /><br />Most military missions can be done with satellites and terrestial weapons systems.<br /><br />I would however guess that they probably have some kind of classified routine access to space.

 

[drwayne]

You're kind of in a weird spot with that question. Those that know, can't say, and those that can say, can only really be speculating.<br /><br />I suggest that you try to not ask such questions. There are folks on here that very well might have clearances, and asking a question about a classified program has the potential to cause issues even if you never get an answer. <br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[centsworth_II]

<font color="yellow">"I suggest that you try to not ask such questions."</font><br /><br />He asked for news, not inside information. I really doubt he expects anyone involved in a secret program to post about it on this board. Speculating about such programs and reading between the lines of press reports is the american way. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[strandedonearth]

There's probably someone who could tell you, but the downside is that then they'd have to kill you...

 

[vt_hokie]

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/pages/svalk.html<br /><br />I doubt the existence of an orbital vehicle myself, but I think the "Super Valkyrie" likely exists, and perhaps is used to carry D-21 style drones or something.

 

[silylene old]

vt_hokie: that's quite a reputable reporter: "By Bill Rose for UFO Magazine UK " <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature" align="center"><em><font color="#0000ff">- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -</font></em> </div><div class="Discussion_UserSignature" align="center"><font color="#0000ff"><em>I really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function.</em></font> </div> </div>

 

[vt_hokie]

LOL! <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[grooble]

That ship is from UFO: Enemy Unknown computer game.

 

[soyuztma]

Well in this set of pictures about the EZrocket record flight from Alan's Mojave Weblog there is this picture: http://www.mojaveweblog.com/photos/051203/xcor-ezrocket-N132EZ-051203-43cr-12.jpg. So it seems they are planning to do some more drops of the X-37 ALTV. But DARPA does not seem to give any information about their plans with the X-37. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[carp]

Very,Very interesting!! in which dating have been shot these photos ?

 

[carp]

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/9089/x3705061613cr82gw.jpg http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/5076/x3705061613cr93bj.jpg

 

[thermionic]

<br />The X-37 was actually dropped? I remember that it had done some captive flights early this summer, but I hadn't heard it was let loose. If so, I guess everything worked OK?

 

[carp]

http://www.mojaveweblog.com/pages/050526-1.html

 

[trailrider]

While I have NO (zero, zip, nada, nicht) knowledge of what IS, I would guess that the U.S. military (USAF or Navy) would certainly like the capability of being able to send personnel to LEO or even MEO, if for no other reason than to be able to inspect and possibly retrieve potentially hostile satellites, without destroying them. (Destruction of "enemy" satellites is fairly easy. Determining whose they are, and to what degree of sophistication technology MAY or may not require crewed vehicles.)<br /><br />You may recall that the STS Shuttle was partially financed by the military, with the hope that they could do this. They even flew a couple of "classified" missions. (Maybe that's why the bottom of the orbiters are black! Because, the Shuttle was only partially military! <img src="/images/icons/rolleyes.gif" />) Even before Challenger, USAF was not satisfied with either the rate of flight scheduling or the ability to keep the press from publishing information that compromised whatever secrecy was desired. As a result, the military went to the EELV's.<br /><br />Now as to what is currently being developed...it's anybody's guess. But I think it is safe to presume that if the requirement is there, money will be appropriated under the "black programs" authorizations, and eventually something will come out in Aviation Leak...er Week!<br /><br />(Say, did you ever take a good look at ANY Air Force BLUE or Army O.D. helicopter, when the light is behind them? They look BLACK!)<br /><br />Ad Luna! Ad Aries! Ad Astra!

 

[spacefire]

Maybe Dynasoar was never cancelled. Let's think about it this way: The Air Force would want to use the Shuttle as a heavy lifter. To send people in space, they would rely on a smaller orbiter launched atop an expendable booster.<br />Whether it were to be a lifting body or a winged craft like the Dynasoar, I think the costs of such a program would be orders of magnitude below that of running the STS. It is possible that the Air Force even used the STS program to 'launder' funds they received from the government for such project. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[n_kitson]

While I have no doubt that there may be a desire for clandestine manned missions, it is incredibly difficult - if not impossible - to hide an orbital launch today. That in and of itself probably precludes the existence of an operational, dedicated classified manned program.

 

[vt_hokie]

I think X-37 should have been the basis for our next manned spacecraft, instead of reviving the Apollo command module. I hope that our military succeeds in developing a useful spaceplane, if NASA is going to give up and return to capsules.

 

[gawin]

I dont think the mil has a black space plane but i do belive they have a black extreemly high altitude recon aircraft. Thier is no way the Mil retired the SR-71 with out having a viable replacement. satalights for real time recon are worthless they arnt always over head when you need them. but i do belive that a suborbital craft that can be flown to anywhere in the world in a matter of hours is available to them now.

 

[skyone]

A reconaissance platform might not necessarly be a spacecraft or aircraft, perhaps a high altitude, long duration UAV airship?

 

[darkenfast]

In reply to this whole thread:<br />Some of you are getting into "Conspiracy Theory La-La Land". <br /><br />Think about it.<br /><br />How are you going to hide a launch into orbit in today's world? For that matter, given the size of any project in the space program, how are you going to hide the existence of something that big in today's world of constant leaks? <br /> <br />The days of overflying a technically sophisticated hostile country to take photos are pretty much over. The SR-71's primary mission was electronic intelligence gathering by flying near the Soviet littoral areas. It was extremely expensive, and the need for it evaporated after the collapse of the USSR. High altitude drones? Now that wouldn't surprise me a bit. But that's about all. Other than the good old U-2 and the satellites, there really isn't much else for the military to do in space/near space other than conceptual studies. <br /><br />Asking about projects on here isn't going to bother or cause trouble for anybody. We already know who you are anyway.

 

[carp]

What about so called X-40? http://www.fas.org/spp/military/program/launch/x-40-smv.gif

 

[spacefire]

the launch needs not be hidden...from the distance one rocket looks like another and the orbiter is undistinguishable. The launch payload and objective can be altered before a press statement is released. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>