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#1 2017-05-21 07:27:55

Dave_Duca
Member
From: Oconto, WI usa
Registered: 2017-03-15
Posts: 92

X-37 Goes to Mars

Now, wouldn't make for an exciting Headlines in the News?
Even the Title sounds like it comes from a 50s B-Rated Sci-Fi Movie.

One of the most high-tech-ish, state-of-the-art, humans-peering-on-humans; Rocket Plane
cleverly designed by the most sophisticated Military Air Force on the planet.

This OTV version of the ex-X-40 Boeing has more autonomy than a Las Vegas Casino.

Can you imagine how accurately effective this already made package would be
if flicked to descend from Martian Orbit?

Change out the Landing Wheels for an upper deployed Glider Chute and
have it land just like the Sky Crane performed for the MSL Curiosity.
And then, land itself Vertically and start the ISRU Process for the Return Trip.
Or, just do something.

But, it already proves the point - on how our "Current State of the Art"
is the current state of the art to use.

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#2 2017-05-21 07:56:20

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 28,750

Re: X-37 Goes to Mars

Here is a list of topics to which we have talked a bit in the form of using the x-37 to land on mars with.
Landing on Mars
Coherent Mars plan
Orbital Space Plane by 2008 - Faster, Cheaper, Better?
OSP: Capsule v. Wings - if you had to choose right now
Crew vehicles discussion
SpacePlane
X-37

To which I see I have some topic clean up to do for the shifting and articles to make them readable. When I find the other topic that I remember it shall be posted as well...

The main issue for wings for mars is the thin atmospher which means a larger wing size which adds mass to the craft doing the landing...

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#3 2017-05-21 08:36:29

Dave_Duca
Member
From: Oconto, WI usa
Registered: 2017-03-15
Posts: 92

Re: X-37 Goes to Mars

Yeah, the wing things are understood.
The package is already ready for ablating for braking.
Yes, I did say "Glider Chute"
And modded to maneuver to the ground like the Sky Crane.

And, I ended with: "Current State of the Art"
is the current state of the art to use.

Nice to have things come to surface after 8 to 12 years.
But, the older posts "spoke of it" not "what to modify and use right now"

The Title still sounds so cool.

Last edited by Dave_Duca (2017-05-21 08:38:42)

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#4 2017-05-21 10:41:01

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 28,750

Re: X-37 Goes to Mars

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#5 2017-05-21 19:19:21

Dave_Duca
Member
From: Oconto, WI usa
Registered: 2017-03-15
Posts: 92

Re: X-37 Goes to Mars

Excellent... thank you !

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#6 2017-05-21 19:37:53

louis
Member
From: UK
Registered: 2008-03-24
Posts: 7,208

Re: X-37 Goes to Mars

A launch mass of 5 tonnes off the back of a big rocket and then landing using Earth's much denser atmosphere ?  How is that relevant to Mars?


Let's Go to Mars...Google on: Fast Track to Mars blogspot.com

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#7 2017-05-21 21:34:36

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 28,750

Re: X-37 Goes to Mars

Yup

SpaceNut wrote:

The main issue for wings for mars is the thin atmospher which means a larger wing size which adds mass to the craft doing the landing...
The thin amtosphere is being talked about in many of the topics and are with ways to make a plane possible more so in a few of them.

To which the solution was given as a fabric wing that inflates with an epoxy hardener to make the wing ridgid. The new heat shield fabric would be used on the sides which see heat on re-entry. The real problem thou starts with the landing as there are no runways and a rocket retro propulsion is to heavy for such a fabric winged plane to support....

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#8 2022-08-07 05:22:35

Mars_B4_Moon
Member
Registered: 2006-03-23
Posts: 8,898

Re: X-37 Goes to Mars

As of ~3 hours ago, it looks like our little Chinese friend the reusable experimental spacecraft/plane was still going...
(and has gained as  Medium (0.1m2 – 1m2) RCS value from our dear friends at 18SDS)
https://twitter.com/DutchSpace/status/1 … 6593759233

I don't really know what these things are classed as these days, some call them Space Force type aircraft others call them X-planes or Shuttles, there have been experiments by India and Europe and Japan. Shenlong  lit. 'divine dragon' I think was the name given to  a Chinese reusable spaceplane in development, there was also a name 'Reusable Experimental Spacecraft'; CSSHQ
https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/09/08/c … pacecraft/
,
https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-laun … 1599217896

McDowell speculated that the very high speeds the spaceplane underwent during re-entry might help the Chinese in their development of hypersonic missiles. He added the Chinese may have thought, "If the Americans have one of those, there's got to be a good reason for it, so we better get one too."
https://www.npr.org/2020/09/09/91111335 … e-suggests

The X-37B Space Plane: Is It Really A Weapon?
https://www.19fortyfive.com/2022/07/the … -a-weapon/

US military's mysterious X-37B space plane sets new spaceflight record
https://www.space.com/x-37b-space-plane … ion-record

Last edited by Mars_B4_Moon (2022-08-07 05:29:34)

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