from Hacker News

US Space Force reveals first look at secretive X-37B space plane in orbit

by aleyan on 2/22/25, 5:30 PM with 101 comments

  • by unsnap_biceps on 2/25/25, 4:32 AM

    Ars previously covered some additional information on the X-37B

    https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/10/the-us-militarys-x-37b...

  • by davidw on 2/25/25, 4:05 AM

    I can't be the only one who, when I read "space force" hears a deep, reverb-heavy, Buck Rogers kind of voice going "spaaaaaaaace foooooooorce"
  • by metadat on 2/25/25, 4:19 AM

    Why might it be desirable to have an observation craft so far away from the earth?

    I'm having a hard time imagining the advantage compared to being a bit closer, unless it's a more energy-efficient parking situation while the vehicle isn't in active use.

  • by nxobject on 2/25/25, 4:43 AM

    Given the military heritage of the Space Shuttle, I imagine this is what a hypothetical next generation civilian Space Shuttle might have looked like, too.
  • by acomjean on 2/25/25, 4:29 AM

    The wings say USAF, which is Air Force. Though clearly in space…
  • by brylie on 2/25/25, 7:11 AM

    How does it have enough Delta-V to get into that distant of an orbit? Is it able to maneuver to different orbits and inclination? Is it able to return to earth? Or, is it more of a satellite than a “plane”? This is my first time learning about this space plane, so apologies if my questions are naive.
  • by ch33zer on 2/25/25, 7:45 AM

    Interestingly since Space Force was created by Trump who sees it as a prestige project and it depends on Musk's SpaceX for launches this is probably one of the most secure agencies in the current administration.
  • by tonyhart7 on 2/25/25, 6:53 AM

    cant wait for space marine branch
  • by lahcim2000 on 2/25/25, 4:36 AM

    How far from earth are they to took that picture?
  • by hindsightbias on 2/22/25, 8:22 PM

    When even your secret programs have to do marketing. Don’t cancel me bro!
  • by mvkel on 2/25/25, 4:27 AM

    That looks... out there. Is it parked at a Lagrange point?
  • by deadbabe on 2/25/25, 4:36 AM

    Imagine the next space station being that high up.
  • by gunian on 2/25/25, 6:15 AM

    imagine if noah had this during the deluge mtsm
  • by entropyneur on 2/25/25, 7:18 AM

    A mere month ago I would have been excited for the new US defence tech.