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Air Force’s mysterious X-37B space plane returns to Earth
Posted on 10/28/19 at 1:22 pm
Posted on 10/28/19 at 1:22 pm
after record-breaking 780 days in orbit
Who knew? I didn't. Hmmmm
LINK
Who knew? I didn't. Hmmmm
quote:
The U.S. Air Force’s secretive X-37B space plane returned to Earth on Sunday after completing more than two years in orbit.
The uncrewed X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle Mission 5 landed at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility at 3:51 a.m. ET Sunday, the Air Force confirmed. The 780-day mission shattered the spaceplane’s own record of almost 718 days in orbit, which was set by Mission 4 when it returned to Earth in May 2017, Space.com reported.
LINK
12
Posted on 10/28/19 at 1:24 pm to Homesick Tiger
quote:
Who knew? I didn't
bc
quote:
secretive
Posted on 10/28/19 at 1:24 pm to Homesick Tiger
Space Force baws
Posted on 10/28/19 at 1:25 pm to Homesick Tiger
Posted on 10/28/19 at 1:26 pm to Homesick Tiger
I wonder if there is always one orbiting the earth? 
Posted on 10/28/19 at 1:26 pm to Homesick Tiger
quote:
The uncrewed
I used to say you can train a monkey to fly a fixed wing craft. Hell, now we don't even need the monkey!
Posted on 10/28/19 at 1:26 pm to Homesick Tiger
Were there people on it or was it unmanned (as I assume)?
If unmanned, what's with that ground crew in space suits?
If unmanned, what's with that ground crew in space suits?
Posted on 10/28/19 at 1:27 pm to Homesick Tiger
Why are those guys wearing Level A suits?
Posted on 10/28/19 at 1:29 pm to GumboPot
No telling what that thing was up there doing.
Posted on 10/28/19 at 1:29 pm to Y.A. Tittle
quote:
what's with that ground crew in space suits?
Level A suits.
I bet that is a geiger counter the guy in the front of the space craft is holding. Suits are probably for radiation protection.
Guy in the front is using a surveying wheel. Probably measuring (or did measure) the landing distance.
This post was edited on 10/28/19 at 1:32 pm
Posted on 10/28/19 at 1:31 pm to GumboPot
quote:
Level A suits.
Okay. But there's another guy down there next to one of them in just some black special ops looking suit, that doesn't seem so protective.
Posted on 10/28/19 at 1:33 pm to Y.A. Tittle
He is outside the perimeter of the cones, maybe it is deemed safe 
Posted on 10/28/19 at 1:34 pm to Y.A. Tittle
quote:
But there's another guy down there next to one of them in just some black special ops looking suit,
You talking about the second guy left to right?
If so, I think that is just a shadow making the suit look dark. I believe they all have on the same type of suits.
Except for the guys way back operating the generators and lights.
Posted on 10/28/19 at 1:34 pm to GumboPot
quote:
Why are those guys wearing Level A suits?
These things are powered with hydrazine. Protective SCAPS have been used during fueling and residual removal after spaceship returns since Apollo days.
Posted on 10/28/19 at 1:35 pm to GumboPot
quote:
Level A Hazmat suits are worn when handling increasingly dangerous substances and thus provide more layers of protection. Hazmat-suit.com describes the protective gear as a “life-support system” as the suit is equipped with SCBA, chemically protective gloves and boots outlined with “steel shanks and toes”, and a complete face mask with a hood. These suits are also equipped with emergency air and two-way communication devices, including a cooling fan, among other pieces of equipment.
LINK
Posted on 10/28/19 at 1:35 pm to BlackHelicopterPilot
quote:Dam you rotor head!
I used to say you can train a monkey to fly a fixed wing craft. Hell, now we don't even need the monkey!
MQ-8 says hello!
LINK
This post was edited on 10/28/19 at 1:40 pm
Posted on 10/28/19 at 1:36 pm to momentoftruth87
quote:
He is outside the perimeter of the cones, maybe it is deemed safe
Both of the guys outside the perimeter had yellow safety vest on. One guy is obviously operating the lights and generator. The other guy is probably security.
Posted on 10/28/19 at 1:36 pm to GumboPot
quote:
f so, I think that is just a shadow making the suit look dark. I believe they all have on the same type of suits.
I was able to zoom in and it appears you're right. Looks like he's wearing the same thing.
Posted on 10/28/19 at 1:37 pm to NeonSunburst
I bet those suits are lead lined too.
ETA: the tanks are even protected from radiation.
The suits are likely just a precaution. Over precaution especially against Gamma and Beta radiation that the space craft may have brought down with it. Remember our atmosphere protects us from most of that dangerous radiation. Gamma radiation is not usually produced from the sun however it can be released by solar flares so there is a small chance of the space craft accumulating gamma radiation.
ETA: the tanks are even protected from radiation.
The suits are likely just a precaution. Over precaution especially against Gamma and Beta radiation that the space craft may have brought down with it. Remember our atmosphere protects us from most of that dangerous radiation. Gamma radiation is not usually produced from the sun however it can be released by solar flares so there is a small chance of the space craft accumulating gamma radiation.
This post was edited on 10/28/19 at 1:44 pm
Posted on 10/28/19 at 1:40 pm to GumboPot
Heck I wouldnt be surprised! Very intriguing!
Apparently this is the 5th test plane to be launched.
air force x37b
Apparently this is the 5th test plane to be launched.
air force x37b
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