"The X-37B" Topic

"The U.S Air Force's highly secret unmanned space plane was supposed to stay in space for nine months, but it's now been there for a year and three days – and no one knows what it's doing.
The experimental craft has been circling Earth at 17,000 miles per hour and was due to land in California in December.
However the mission of the X-37B orbital test vehicle was extended – for unknown reasons…"

full article with pictures here.
link

Is this a military airplane or spaceship?

Amicalement
Armand

Perhaps it's an orbital fighter, to keep all those pesky UFO's/IFO's at bay.

Think Sky One, from SHADO, but parked in orbit, so it doesn't cede the "high ground" to the inbound craft.

Another 'undocumented feature' in the software?

Like the Mars lander that had a mix up between miles and kilometers in the distance parameter – that must have hurt if it hit anything.

Is this a military airplane or spaceship?

Both.

It's owned by the military, but it's not much more than an unmanned version of the Space Shuttle with a much smaller payload bay. Frankly, the X37 could fit inside the Space Shuttle's cargo bay with room to spare!

It's not carrying anything big (it's payload bay is ~1.2m x 2.2m), but it is doing something.

Maybe it is just broken. Or a big bluff-its not a very secret, secret project!

Fnord.
Smoke and Mirrors.
"Lookie what I have over here…But don't mind my other hand.."
"Ignore the man behind the curtain…"

Apply tin foil hat now…

The Red button is STUCK!.

8)

Boeing Aircraft (The makers of the X-37B) is trying to decide if they want to make a X-37C version – Manned.

Just Google X-37C

Also this statement

"However, analysts have pointed out that surveillance would be tricky, since the spacecraft would rush past each other at thousands of metres per second."

Oh and all the PRACTICE our Airforce has had using spy camera's in space photographing things on the ground when the satillite moves at 'thousands of metres per second' doesn't apply in this situation. Riiiiight.

Spying, anti-satelite, picking up Andromeda strain, looking for winning lottery numbers or tallying up crashed UFO's, take your pick …

I think it's an experiment in cryostasis, somebody is in the payload bay, when they land he gets unfrozen, if he lives, they make the next trip longer.
In 10 years you will have a New Virgin company dealing with sending you into the future for only $10 USDm. Space pops :)

But this is just my guess

Well, I would *like* it to have a targeting system and some kinetics, waiting to cause an 'unfortunate accident' when DPRK goes to launch that 'satellite' in two weeks.

But I highly doubt that is the reason.

but it's now been there for a year and three days

Of course, the most likely explanation is that they can't get the engine to light for deorbit.

I say we take off and……….

It's the only way to be sure.