X-37B has been in space for over two years
Top Secret shuttle orbiter of USAF has been at space over two years, and the question is why this shuttle is so secret? Of course, it can be used for the material research, and the thing is that inside its cargo bay could install the manipulator hands, which makes it a really good platform for research.
But if we would want to create the remote-controlled laboratory in the orbital trajectory, we can shoot simple the cylinder-shaped satellite, what can be empty rocket stage, what is equipped with the remote-controlled equipment. And if we would use Falcon-9 or Falcon Heavy-type of rockets for that purpose, we might have a more sophisticated system than in some extremely small shuttle.
The stage would be launched to LEO (Low Earth Orbiter) and then the auxiliary stage would be connected to it, and then that laboratory would push to the higher trajectory. That kind of laboratories has a bad reputation because they can test dangerous organisms without fear of infections. So the thing is that X-37B is a little bit too small for the space laboratory, and the normal satellite-looking device could do its missions. But the thing what makes that small shuttle interesting is the reason, why it spends so long time in space?
That kind of programs are not made for anything, and there must be some kind of reasons, why this shuttle is made, and why it is top secret? The thing in that kind of operations are expensive, and there is another thing in remote-controlled shuttles. They all look like each other. When we are thinking about X-37B there is something, what somebody doesn't want people to know. So we must start to think about the purpose of this strange spacecraft.
One thing is clear, this vehicle is a so-called "grey" project, which means that it is public, and the body of this shuttle is public. There are images on the net, but every technical detail of it are classified. So X-37B can be used as the next-generation cruise missile, or so-called HCM (Hypersonic Cruise Missile), which means that it's cargo bay would be equipped with a small-sized nuclear weapon.
When the threat of war is increasing, that shuttle would launch to the orbiter and its standby for the attack. When the threat is over, it can return to base. It means that it could be used the prototype of the new refundable warhead carrier, what can send to the orbiter for fast operation. But it would be suitable for ASAT missions, which means that it can be equipped with rocket weapons.
X-37B kind of system can also carry a telescope, which can be used for multiple intelligence missions. That shuttle is more suitable for those roles than some kind of flying laboratory. But of course, it can be used to test structures for long-term space operations. When we are looking at the other possible role of this shuttle, that could be the "frontman" for the thing, that USAF and CIA just have that kind of devices.
That means that there could be other small shuttles, which are using STEALTH-technology. And X-37B is meant for cover-up device, what purpose is to hide secrecy, if some worker of those projects would accidentally tell something about those shuttles, what might have multiple usages. So we are waiting for the next information on this system.
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