22 months in low earth orbit?? Doing what?? Spy mission most likely.

Covert military plane to return from mysterious space mission on Tuesday


A Boeing X-37B orbital test vehicle will soon return from a secret mission in space, according to a statement from the U.S. Air Force. The vehicle is scheduled for a touchdown in California on October 14, following a mission lasting 22 months.

http://www.techtimes.com/articles/17791/20141013/covert-military-plane-return-space-mission-tuesday.htm

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I wonder just how hard it would be to convert this craft for manned missions to the ISS

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

I wonder just how hard it would be to convert this craft for manned missions to the ISS

Extremely. There is no room for life support, cabin, crew controls, window ....

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I guess I was thinking of the X37C which is really a different craft, if they ever build it.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

22 months in low earth orbit?? Doing what?? Spy mission most likely.

Covert military plane to return from mysterious space mission on Tuesday


A Boeing X-37B orbital test vehicle will soon return from a secret mission in space, according to a statement from the U.S. Air Force. The vehicle is scheduled for a touchdown in California on October 14, following a mission lasting 22 months.

http://www.techtimes.com/articles/17791/20141013/covert-military-plane-return-space-mission-tuesday.htm

*Dishevelled anniet emerges from haystack* Thought they were NEVER going to land the darn thing...

clicked on this from your linked page Lynn... know it's off topic and it may have been posted before - but thought it was interesting...

magnetic pole flip

Although there is no historical evidence that such magnetic flips affect the environment or the Earth's inhabitants, scientists fear that the next flip will create electrical currents that could disrupt electrical power grids and communications technology.

As it stands, the Earth's magnetic field is currently weakening 10 times faster than expected, indicating an imminent pole flip, so more research like this can help us understand how and why this phenomenon happens.

That would mess up the spying games somewhat... *re-enter haystack*

edit: interesting craft though - nice design from what I can see of it :)

magnetic pole flip

Yes it's true. Any military officer who has studied map reading knows that there is an annual declination in the drift of the North Pole indication that must be calculated and added in to correctly navigate and aim artillery.

The annual declination is written on any military map's data panel as well as the year that the map was created.

Space plane: Mysterious US military plane returns to Earth


A unmanned US plane on a top-secret, two-year mission to space has returned to Earth and landed in California.

The aircraft, resembling a miniature space shuttle and known as the Orbital Test Vehicle or X-37B, spent 674 days in orbit around the planet.

It touched down at Vandenberg Air Force Base on Friday morning.

The purpose of the plane remains unclear - a theory that it was taking a look at China's space lab has recently been downplayed by experts.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-29669205

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*re-enter haystack*

If your middle name is Rosie, I'll bring the cider ....

What is more interesting is the X37C

Thanks Chris. Wikipedia is now asking for donations.

They went to follow the aliens.

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So many things we don't know, people... Thanx Lynn:)

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rOZZ
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Wikipedia is now asking for donations.

They're always asking for donations actually Lynn. ;-)

Cheers.