09-11-2017, 05:04 PM
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BAR
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Needville and Shiner, TX
Posts: 6,134
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BigRIJoe
So why the launch vehicle switch for the X-37B?
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"Guaranteed access to space"... IOW, if the Atlas it usually launches on blew up due to faulty Russian engines or something, they have a ready backup.
Plus, it's a reusable unmanned spaceplane. Just makes sense to launch it on a (mostly) reusable rocket... IOW, it's what NASA SHOULD have done 10-15 years ago...
If/when SpaceX decides to recover the second stage, this combination would be a fully reusable orbital vehicle. How cool is that??
Later! OL J R
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