X-37B Robot Space Plane

Stingray

While some worry about how Syfy shuffles around its least popular TV shows in favor of more "ressling", some actual work gets done in real science. :p :D

I didn't even know about this [URL="http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20100420/sc_space/experimentalx37brobotspaceplanetolaunchthursday"]robot space plane[/URL] until now.

Calling it a plane is a bit of a stretch though... and unless it's a transformer, it doesn't look much like a robot either.

Anyway, I hope this project isn't yet another possible casualty in a long line of canceled programs.

ShadowDancer

Yeah I'd come across references to this before, although I didn't realise it was this close to a proper flight test. It'll be interesting to see how it performs

Biggles

The only reason the X-37B hasn't been cancelled yet is that it's technically a DoD project, not a Nasa project. While Nasa will cancel a project at the slightest sign of problems in order to save money in its meagre budget, DARPA and the DoD tend to carry projects to completion no matter the outcome.

Stingray

It's comforting to know that there are people who know what they are doing and know how to get there. :D

RedAssAg05

What's going to happen when aliens make first contact with one or more of these robotic craft and--sympathetic to their pathetic life as a slave race--decide to aid them by coming to Earth and overthrowing it's human masters?

What then, hmmm?

sinclair

[URL="http://www.nasa.gov/topics/technology/features/robonaut.html"]Maybe R2 will tell?[/URL]

[IMG]http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/422830main_r2_2059_226.jpg[/IMG]

RedAssAg05

The Revolution will be Motorized.