• The USAF's X-37B Secret Space Plane Appears to Be Tracking China's New Space Station
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[QUOTE]Here at PopSci we don’t like to spread rumors. And that’s how I generally like to start off a post wherein I intend to propagate some kind of hearsay rooted mostly in speculation. Hearsay like this: America’s X-37B spaceplane, the shuttle-like unmanned robotic orbiter that the Air Force put into orbit for the second time back in March, is probably (possibly) spying on China’s Tiangong-1 space station. At least, that’s what we heard. Specifically, that’s what the Web is hearing today via Spaceflight magazine, which is reporting that the X-37B currently circling the globe is in an orbit that closely mimics that of China’s experimental space station. And given the fact that many in the space community--including the U.S. Air Force, owners of the X-37B--are somewhat wary of China’s space ambitions, who are we to say that Spaceflight mag is wrong? First, the facts. We know that Tiangong-1--which was launched back in September and is slated to host a manned crew sometime later this year--is in an orbit with an inclination of 42.78 degrees at an altitude of roughly 186 miles. And we know--not from the Pentagon but from a group of vigilant amateur space trackers--that the X-37B is orbiting at about the same altitude and at an inclination of 42.79 degrees. Not only is that orbit strange for a military recon satellite--they usually have polar orbits that offer better access to the entire globe--but it would periodically bring the two orbiters very close together. Of course, the leap that’s being made--that the reason X-37B and Tiangong are on such similar paths is because the former is spying on the latter--is speculation entirely. The 30-foot X-37B has a cargo bay roughly akin to the interior space of a van, and there’s no telling what kind of sensors or other equipment might be stowed in there. And though China has been somewhat forthcoming about Tiangong-1’s mission, we can’t really be sure about that either. Putting them on the same orbital path is practically a recipe for rampant speculation. Tiangong-1 is small precursor space station China is developing as a technology testbed for the 66-ton space station it hopes to have underway by 2020 (the People’s Republic recently docked a Shenzou spacecraft with Tiangong-1, showing the world just how far its on-orbit capabilities have come). But given the fact that China draws no real distinction between its civilian, science-oriented space endeavors and its military space ambitions (in fact, it was a military officer who offered the congratulatory speech to Tiangong’s mission handlers after the docking), the rest of the world has reason to be wary of what’s going on aboard Tiangong-1. So is the Air Force’s X-37B up there shadowing a Chinese space station, keeping an eye out for any shady, militaristic activities? We have no idea. That’s just what we heard.[/QUOTE] Source: [url]http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-01/usafs-x-37b-space-plane-spying-chinas-space-station-maybe[/url]
Space war?
[QUOTE=MrBob1337;34072218]Space war?[/QUOTE] Star Wars
The reason our space plane keeps following their space station is that when you spy on a Chinese space station 30 minutes later you feel like you need to spy on it again.
Reminds me of 2010: Odyssey Two (In the book the Chinese were working on building a top-secret space station[sp]which turns out to be a spaceship[/sp])
I didn't know the Chinese had a space station.
Suddenly Chinese space station fires missiles and blows up X37 Shuttle.
I honestly doubt the chinese are going to have "super weapons" or anything dangerous on there, this is more of a dick waving thing.
[QUOTE=lifehole;34073044]I honestly doubt the chinese are going to have "super weapons" or anything dangerous on there, this is more of a dick waving thing.[/QUOTE] Dick waving = putting a scientific research center into earths orbit? Okay.
[QUOTE=dickpickle;34073058]Dick waving = putting a scientific research center into earths orbit? Okay.[/QUOTE] he means it literally, I mean, wouldn't you get bored spending a few months in a cramped space station
I think he's referring to the alleged shadowing of the station by the X-37.
[QUOTE=lifehole;34073044]I honestly doubt the chinese are going to have "super weapons" or anything dangerous on there, this is more of a dick waving thing.[/QUOTE] Weaponising space is against international law.
[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;34073141]Weaponising space is against international law.[/QUOTE] Yes, I know. Also to those asking, I was referring to the fact that the US may be watching China to assure they do not attempt any malicious action with the space station. This is a pretty predictable action considering the USA attempts to stick its nose in alot of things nowadays, especially those involving larger powers like china. Oh and the dick waving thing was me talking about how china does not have malicious intent with the space station, it is simply a move to show off and enforce their reputation as a space power.
[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;34073141]Weaponising space is against international law.[/QUOTE] And what is the police gonna do? Go in space with pistols?? Lol what can they do about it they would need to break their own rule
[QUOTE=feloix13;34073187]And what is the police gonna do? Go in space with pistols?? Lol what can they do about it they would need to break their own rule[/QUOTE] International Law is not local law. If they do use space weaponry, everyone else in the world would fucking hate them and declare war on them from and destroy them on land/air.
[QUOTE=lifehole;34073220]International Law is not local law. If they do use space weaponry, everyone else in the world would fucking hate them and declare war on them from and destroy them on land/air.[/QUOTE] Good point. EDIT: but it would probably be too late because chinese techs are so fast the station would have a giant superlaser and they would have decimated your unit any time man ANY TIME
[QUOTE=lifehole;34073220]International Law is not local law. If they do use space weaponry, everyone else in the world would fucking hate them and declare war on them from and destroy them on land/air.[/QUOTE] hahahaha wow more like [img]http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumblarge_278/1213156928n4Rjp5.jpg[/img]
[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;34073141]Weaponising space is against international law.[/QUOTE] Since when has international law stopped anyone :v: [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_Defense_Initiative[/url] [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salyut_3[/url] [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fractional_Orbital_Bombardment_System[/url]
[QUOTE=Contag;34073265]hahahaha wow more like [img]http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumblarge_278/1213156928n4Rjp5.jpg[/img][/QUOTE] Yeah, that would be the case if they did have weaponry on the space station. If they used it, that would be my scenario.
[QUOTE=Timebomb575;34073274]Since when has international law stopped anyone :v: [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_Defense_Initiative[/url] [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salyut_3[/url] [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fractional_Orbital_Bombardment_System[/url][/QUOTE] The Outer Space Treaty only forbids weapons of mass destruction. [quote=Outer Space Treaty]The Treaty does not prohibit the placement of conventional weapons in orbit.[/quote] As for FOBS: [quote]The SALT II agreement (1979) prohibited the deployment of FOBS systems: Each Party undertakes not to develop, test, or deploy: (...) (c) systems for placing into Earth orbit nuclear weapons or any other kind of weapons of mass destruction, including fractional orbital missiles; The missile was phased out in January 1983 in compliance with this treaty.[/quote]
[QUOTE=feloix13;34073230]Good point. EDIT: but it would probably be too late because chinese techs are so fast the station would have a giant superlaser and they would have decimated your unit any time man ANY TIME[/QUOTE] Nope, we have anti-satellite missiles. :v:
[QUOTE=Timebomb575;34073274]Since when has international law stopped anyone :v: [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_Defense_Initiative[/url] [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salyut_3[/url] [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fractional_Orbital_Bombardment_System[/url][/QUOTE] Yup, the soviets were crazy enough to place a manned 30mm autocannon in a sattelite.
[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;34073141]Weaponising space is against international law.[/QUOTE] International law is at worst a fiction and at best a joke followed by few countries.
the drone just wants take out food
X-37B, the first space lurker, stalks its prey.
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