NBC News reports that the unmanned X37B space plane landed at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California yesterday morning after 647 days of circling the planet.
“The 30th Space Wing and our mission partners, Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, Boeing, and our base support contractors, have put countless hours of hard work into preparing for this landing and today we were able to see the culmination of that dedication,” Colonel Keith Balts, 30th Space Wing commander, said in a release.
I don’t know what it does, but I guess that was the end of it’s third flight. Some speculate that it’s some sort of weapons platform, others think it’s a spy plane, but whatever it’s for, I’m glad we’re the ones who built it.
What AF Hero of the Empire award will the 30th Space Wing Bubbas and Bubbetes get?
Yeah, I wonder what new “HEY LOOK, I’M SPECIAL!!” medal they’ll propose for the geeks assigned to this?
That would be the “Iron Joystick” Award, SJ, given out to all hands who managed to bring the vehicle back to Earth safely, despite the Cheetohs dust and Mt Dew spills.
AW1 Tim…Spew alert please. Diet Coke on the keyboard now! LMAO brother. Wonder what the 2nd and subsequent awards device will be?
Sparks,
I’m thinking they’ll be bars.
You know, the Milky Way Bar, the Mars Bar, anything space-related. 🙂
Test vehicle for robot cargo delivery system for the Mars mission?
Training platform for space shuttle doorgunner program?
Forerunner for the Farscape program?
But what do I know?
‘Farscape’ – oh, for the good old days.
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=farscape+online&FORM=VIRE3#view=detail&mid=21F7C028545C41FB735C21F7C028545C41FB735C
That pale-blue-white chick with the hippie hair was hot!
If this thing is a glider like the Shuttle, why does it sound like it’s coming in with full afterburners on?
That’s just 200-odd mph of air stream you’re hearing.
Afterburners sound nothing like that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5A_R4N6VZk
http://www.military.com/video/aircraft/jet-fighters/f-15-eagle-afterburner-takeoffs/3117816388001/
You’re hearing the jet engine noise of a chase plane, most likely.
That thing’s got some serious loiter ability.