The US Air Force launched its Orbital Test Vehicle X-37B from Cape Canaveral on the evening of April 22, on a test flight of indeterminate length. The “Mini Shuttle” as it has been nicknamed, is an unmanned combination aircraft/spacecraft, capable of unpowered flights up to 270 days. The NASA shuttle had a maximum mission length of 16 days. Once the mission is complete, the robotic space shuttle will land autonomously.
The exact mission is secret, but most commentators suggested it would include surveillance, support to ground forces, repairs for other USAF space assets, and possibly the ability to destroy other nation’s space assets as well as to attack from space without warning or detection. Indeed, the flexibility of the orbiter’s functions was a key force behind Boeing’s design.
“This launch helps ensure that our warfighters will be provided the capabilities they need in the future,” said Col. Andre Lovett, vice commander of the 45th Space Wing and the officer who made the firing decision.
Arms control advocates say it is pretty clearly the beginning of a “weaponization of space” – precursor to a precision global strike capability that would allow the US to hover for months at a time over anywhere it chose with little anyone could do about it.
“The idea of being able to launch an unmanned research platform that can stay up there for months on end provides you with all kinds of capability, both military and civilian,” says Chris Hellman, a policy analyst with the National Priorities Project, a budget watchdog in Northampton, Mass.
He believes the fact that it is an Air Force initiative may say something about what it will ultimately used to do. And that may not sit well with others. “I can see where the prospect of having half a dozen of these things with unknown payloads circling overhead could be very troubling to people,” Mr. Hellman says.
Robert Bowman Former Director of Advanced Space Programs for Presidents Carter and Reagan, said the question people have raised today is: “Is this the beginning of the weaponization of space?” He answered his own query by stating that these programs have progressed secretly for over 30 years.
“So the issue is NOT “Is this the BEGINNING of the weaponization of space?” Certainly the US Air Force is interested in using such a craft as a platform for detecting and neutralizing other nation’s space assets, as well as coordinating and carrying out missions to destroy land-based assets without warning or detection.
Others in the civilian space community responded cautiously. Obviously, American weaponization of space can have a chilling affect on any international venture that American firms try to form. However, Thusday’s launch, and the news of the long-duration mission possibility, encouraged others who believe a similar nonmilitary craft can be designed, built and deployed quickly. This puts low earth orbit in reach for commercial purposes.
Boeing-built Orbital Test Vehicle X-37B begins first flight Posted by John McHale, Avionics Intelligence
Air Force to launch X-37 space plane: Precursor to war in orbit? By Gordon Lubold, Christian Science Monitor / April 20, 2010, CSMonitor.com
X37b space plane launch: first in Air Force’s busy space year By Peter Grier, Christian Science Monitor / April 23, 2010, CSMonitor.com
Video: Weaponizer: US military unmanned shuttle X-37B launches on secret mission
RT BLOC http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nag7GCNx8eo&feature=player_embedded#!
Boeing X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle Launch Raises More Questions Than Answers, Submitted by Amy Munday on Fri, 2010-04-23 13:29, HULIQ
http://www.huliq.com/9501/boeing-x-37b-orbital-test-vehicle-launch-raises-more-questions-answers
