Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

X-37B onboard a space about 8.2 meters (27 feet), a wingspan of 4.6 meters (15 feet). The size of a NASA space shuttle orbiter, 1-4 times, trials and finally the use of automatic air re-entry and landing. Source: China Radio Network

Zhuangao Xinhua (Xinhua military commentator Zheng Wenhao) If it is not the media publish the Air Force X-37B space vehicle will be Monday to Friday during the return to Earth, we almost forgotten there was such a mysterious guy in space has sailed more than seven months. Because now the national media, either of the two Koreas and a bombardment of a US-South Korea joint exercise then attracted to, or in stir-fried so-called “WikiLeaks.” Lack of space that something irritating news.

According to the Associated Press reported on November 30, X-37B is scheduled to return to Los Angeles in the United States northwest of Vandenberg Air Force Base, specific time will be based on weather and other factors. Vandenberg Air Force Base in the United States for the X-37B has already begun to prepare for landing.

had fired when the media the X-37B space vehicle called the “space planes” which does some sensational. Because of the distance so-called “aircraft”, X-37B is passing. But to say that X-37B and the U.S. military space program is not detached, but also not be justified.

stayed in space for more than seven months, X-37B in the end have done something? If the X-37B is the U.S. space shuttle demonstrator, then the X-37B may be proven technology, including what?

considered a photographic reconnaissance of space. X-37B space vehicle one month after launch, on a 40 degree angle to stay in near-Earth circular orbit (perigee 433 km, apogee 444 km), will be repeated every four days after a place, as long 2 months, which obviously is to verify the imaging reconnaissance aircraft equipped with the device results.

orbit maneuver seems to be considered one. According to the observations, X-37B space vehicle in orbit in space a total of 5 times. Launch early, X-37B space vehicle’s orbit, is perigee 403 km, apogee 420 km; second orbit in early August for 2 months, perigee 433 km, apogee 444 km; third orbit in In early October, lasts about 30 days, the track becomes perigee 390 km, apogee of 395 km; fourth orbit in November, into orbit perigee 315 km, apogee 328 km; fifth orbit is November 12 around the track to further reduce and become perigee 281 km, apogee of 292 km.

long-term in-orbit maintenance is also covered. In accordance with design requirements, X-37B space vehicle should be able to run 270 days in space mission, which is about 9 months. From launch on April 22 this year began to count, X-37B if you want to reach 270 days, it is necessary to return to Earth next year. But even seven months to return to the ground is not to say failure, after all, this is a demonstrator mission. Media reports, X-37B carrying the new solar arrays, to increase the time in orbit. In addition, the new fuel can effectively increase the X-37B’s in orbit.

the most critical, or a few days after the X-37B can return safely to the ground. From a technical point of view of verification, the technology involved in this area the most abundant, such as return and landing, navigation and the use of automatic landing technology, space communication systems, high-temperature ceramics and carbon composites, and so on. If the X-37B successfully returns, the success of the second aircraft automatic flight landing orbiter. The first frame of the former Soviet Union, “blizzard” of the space shuttle. It should be said of the former Soviet Union had a higher level, “blizzard” of the space shuttle than the X-37B at least four times larger.

both aircraft carriers, Aegis ships or the Hornets are the product of the last century. In the future, the first outbreak of war in space inevitable, victory is bound in space. Although the X-37B can not be considered a real sense of the space fighter, but it does the U.S. military prepared to be offensive force in space, the beginning of large-scale use. Large-scale naval and air play in the now not so much a protest as it is performing. Concerned about the higher and more mysterious space, in order to grasp the winning opportunities.