For the first time, a photo obtained by X-37B was made on a mission in space. It shows a very small part of the ground and the vehicle. All elements are likely to provide information about the internal architecture of its hold, even the elements of useful loads have been deleted. She asks more questions than answering. But that’s interesting.
A few days ago, Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS), a US Defense Ministry agency, responsible for the management and distribution of media content, the first image of the land taken by the X37B, the US pilot (US) The first picture of the space plane made of the drone. Space Force, during the OTV-6 mission from May 17, 2020 to November 12, 2022 (908 days).
Do you know?
The X-37B is a space vehicle that has been developed in 1999 since its initial development in NASA. Designed to become a technical demonstration, it has become a means of testing modern technologies for the United States local force and carrying out orbiting missions.
Even though something can be seen TransparencyTransparency Local military operations, it should be clear that this icon is less appreciated and has been digitally modified to mask some of the useful of the vehicle’s useful loads.
There is no information related to the features of the machine’s orbit, nor was its distance from its ground. It was done not to disclose too much about its orbit’s activities and why this vehicle is so far away from the ground. The analysis of this icon makes it possible to distinguish only part of the space vehicle, including Solar panelsSolar panels And what seems to be a part of the hold.
This situation highlights a critical balance between national security and the responsibility of the people. This photo post then, perhaps accidentally, in December 2023 a short video clip of two small seconds, which has been separated from Falcon 9 of the OTV-6 Mission’s X-37B and its service module. – Space xSpace x After its start in May 2020.
The broadcast of this icon, which was obtained in 2024, was built on the X -account of the United States Space Force. It also has a simple legend that indicates ” That is, an on-board camera riding an X-37B, which is used to monitor the condition and safety of the vehicle, occupies a picture of the earth, while it guides experiments in high orbit in 2024. Pantherry, called AeropreningAeropreningTo securely replace the orbit using the minimum fuel ».
Aeropraning Challenges
Aeropraning is a technique used in the field ApplianceAppliance To edit the orbit of the space machine usingEnvironmentEnvironment Of a planet to reduce this VitalVital. This method savesEnergyEnergy Without the use of fuel, which is particularly beneficial for long missions or with obstacles M’sM’s. However, it contains risks to vehicles and investigations that use it, because forces FrictionFriction Damage can be damaged by wings, governments or solar panels for investigation. In addition, HeatHeat These veins should be carefully controlled by these veins to avoid damage to the structure.
Aeropraning involves entering a planet environment to slow down the spacecraft (or investigations, planet missions) and adjust its orbit with minimal fuel. It also allows you to correct your speed and come into space in an unexpected location. These techniques are particularly interesting for military use or whose activities are not disclosed because they are permanently monitored by other space forces.
It is especially useful for missions around Mars, where the environment is so dense that it can allow this technique without damaging the investigation. For example, Mission -like Mission’s TGO investigation Examers 2016Examers 2016 Or Mars OdisiMars Odisi That NasaNasa Aeroparing is used to enter orbit around the red planet. This technique will also be used by the ESA Envision investigation, which will be used in November 2031 to keep it in orbit around Venice.
